Housing Association - July / August 2023 by Euromedia Associates Limited

Fire Protection & Tenant Safety

Heating, Ventilation, Condensation & Mould Control

Exterior Building Envelope, MMC & Offsite Construction

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Interiors & Inclusive Design

Doors, Windows, Access & Security

Refurbishment & Maintenance

Stormking: Off-site manufactured GRP components helping UK construction industry build better

Triton: Sustainable Shower

Specification: How everyone can play their part

HOUSING ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE JUL/AUG 2023

www.hamag.co.uk

The leading magazine for specifiers of social & affordable housing

FRONT COVER

In the post-Grenfell environment, the building construction materials industry is transforming to make sure that tragedy is never repeated. One industry leader at the forefront of the push for change is Adam Turk, CEO of Siderise, a company specialising in fire insulation solutions for multistorey buildings. Inside he explains why housing associations should seek to build better and rather than aspiring to current benchmarks, think about future regulations in a quest to provide the maximum fire safety benefit possible.

Partnership renewed to build on over £250m housing success

Social landlords and procurement organisation collaborated on 258 projects

Housing leaders have renewed a crucial partnership – after revealing the huge successes it has delivered to Scotland’s market for affordable and accessible homes.

Since it was launched in 2018 the partnership has seen Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) support and collaborate with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) helping its members to deliver £258.5m worth of projects.

Now the two organisations have agreed to continue the partnership for another year, further strengthening the connections which have already seen 70 housing associations bring 258 projects to fruition.

SPA is Scotland’s largest free-to-join procurement organisation. Its frameworks offer an efficient and compliant route to market for the construction, refurbishment, consultancy and maintenance of social housing and public buildings.

Lesley Anderson, SPA Director, said: “The success of this partnership is built on shared values. Both organisations understand the vital importance to Scotland of having a ready supply of high-quality, modern, accessible, and affordable homes for rent.

“We are proud that our frameworks serve housing associations so well, enabling them to find quality contractors efficiently and compliantly ensuring that new homes are built, and existing housing stock is maintained and upgraded.

“Beyond that, we have shown a huge commitment to giving back to the communities where these housing associations operate. Working hand in hand, we can amplify the impact of our individual efforts and create a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable future for communities.”

SPA works with 120 partners, including councils, blue light services, the NHS, and a host of other public sector organisations/bodies. However, it is particularly renowned for its work with an extensive range of social landlords.

As a proud not-for-profit, SPA’s Community Benefit Fund (CBF), sees surpluses invested back into Scottish communities, via its charity partner, Lintel Trust. Since 2017 the CBF has delivered more than £1.7million of grants and match funding to 102 community groups, charities and causes.

Projects have included Holiday Hunger programmes, community gardens, digital and social inclusion, employability initiatives and specialist mental health services. They have helped improve the lives of at least 19,000 people while delivering social value of more than £3.9million.

Sally Thomas, Chief Executive of SFHA, said: “I’m pleased to see this partnership renewed as many of our members have benefitted from advice, training, and best practice support from SPA, helping them to successfully procure vital services.

As the membership body for Scotland’s housing associations and cooperatives, SFHA’s 137 members represent more than 90% of the sector and its vision is for its members to be central to the country’s social and economic recovery and renewal.

Another partnership success was the creation of a Procurement Advisory Service, free to SFHA members, ensuring better understanding and implementation of Scottish procurement regulations. It included an enquiry function, guidance, seminars, workshops, and procurement roadshow events, with 90% of Scottish housing associations interacting with it.

The partnership also sees SPA sponsoring a range of SFHA’s showpiece events across the year, including its annual conference. SPA also supported delivery of quarterly procurement forums for SFHA members.

“Since the inception of SFHA’s partnership with SPA extensive work has been undertaken to make the procurement process simple and accessible for housing associations. In the context of ever tighter budgets, yet a need to deliver more affordable homes, it is encouraging that SPA’s frameworks can help members find the right contractors and get value for money.”

The two organisations also share insight about changes, trends and legislation across the sector. Crucially, when SFHA is involved in SPA’s regular events to benchmark and enhance its frameworks.

SPA’s 120 partners cover a diverse range of public sector entities from small cooperatives, regional and national registered social landlords (RSLs), as well as local authorities. It also works with 300 suppliers, mostly SMEs, who deliver services to SPA’s partners.

n HA ARTICLE 4 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Lesley Anderson, SPA Director Image © SPA Sally Thomas, Chief Executive of SFHA Image © SFHA

“Both organisations understand the vital importance to Scotland of having a ready supply of highquality, modern, accessible, and affordable homes for rent.”

“In the context of ever tighter budgets, yet a need to deliver more affordable homes, it is encouraging that SPA’s frameworks can help members find the right contractors and get value for money.”

Commercial heating: a path to decarbonise businesses and empower housing associations

In today’s ever-evolving world, businesses and organisations are increasingly recognising the urgent need to reduce their carbon footprint. Among various sectors, commercial heating systems play a crucial role in energy consumption and emissions. In this article, Housing Association Magazine’s Joe Bradbury explores the significance of commercial heating in decarbonising businesses, with a particular focus on how housing associations can embrace sustainable practices within their own office buildings.

While an immediate transition away from gas may not be feasible for all housing associations, strategic budget planning for the next few years and potential funding opportunities can pave the way for a greener and more sustainable future.

n The importance of decarbonisation

As the detrimental effects of climate change become more apparent, reducing carbon emissions has become a global imperative.

Businesses, including housing associations, have a crucial role to play in this transition.

In many ways, social housing has led the way in sustainable energy use through the early adoption of renewable heating under the previous Code for Sustainable Homes Regulations. This helped housing associations reduce the use of solid fuel and oil heating for thousands of properties off the gas network. It not only helped to decarbonise the housing stock, but it also took many tenants out of fuel poverty and brought their heating systems into the 21st Century. But the housing associations themselves haven’t always been able to look at their own operations in quite the same way.

n The role of commercial heating

Commercial heating systems are one of the largest contributors to energy consumption and emissions in office buildings. Traditional heating systems often rely on fossil fuels, particularly gas, which releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Under the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, commercial buildings are required to get an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when they are sold or re-let. At the beginning of April 2023, this increased to an ‘E’ rating and the government is proposing that by December 2028, properties will need to have an EPC rating of ‘C’ or above.

This will not be achievable using gas for heating, so businesses are now looking at how they can transition to sustainable heating alternatives as a way of achieving meaningful carbon reduction targets.

n Planning for the transition

While immediate elimination of gas-powered systems may not be feasible for all housing associations, strategic planning is key. Organisations can develop comprehensive decarbonisation plans, encompassing a timeline of 2 to 5 budget periods, to gradually phase out gas heating systems.

This approach allows for budget allocation, identification of suitable alternatives, and collaboration with energy consultants or providers.

n Funding opportunities

To support the transition towards sustainable heating, housing associations can explore funding programs like Salix, which offers interest-free loans to the public sector in the UK for energy efficiency projects.

By accessing such funding, housing associations can invest in renewable heating technologies, such as air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, or district heating schemes. These solutions provide efficient and low-carbon alternatives to traditional gas-powered systems.

n Advantages of sustainable heating solutions

Implementing sustainable heating solutions brings numerous benefits beyond carbon reduction. These technologies often provide improved energy efficiency, resulting in long-term cost savings for housing associations. Furthermore, renewable heating systems can enhance the comfort and well-being of employees by offering better control over temperature and providing consistent heat.

n Raising awareness and engagement

To successfully transition to sustainable heating, housing associations must raise awareness among employees, residents, and stakeholders. Education campaigns, workshops, and regular communication can help foster a shared understanding of the importance of decarbonisation. Engaging stakeholders in the decision-making process ensures transparency and allows for valuable input and support.

n Beyond heating: comprehensive sustainability strategies

While focusing on commercial heating is vital, housing associations should also consider adopting comprehensive sustainability strategies. This includes implementing energy-efficient lighting, optimising insulation, promoting recycling and waste reduction, and embracing renewable energy sources. By adopting a holistic approach, housing associations can create a greener, healthier, and more sustainable environment for their employees and residents.

n In summary

In summary, commercial heating systems play a crucial role in the decarbonisation journey of businesses, including housing associations. While immediate elimination of gas heating may not be feasible for all organisations, strategic planning and funding opportunities can pave the way for a greener future. Housing associations can develop comprehensive decarbonisation plans, spanning multiple budget periods, to gradually transition away from gas-powered systems. Funding programs like Salix offer a valuable opportunity to access financial support for renewable heating technologies. By embracing sustainable heating solutions, such as air source heat pumps or district heating schemes, housing associations can not only reduce their carbon footprint but also enjoy improved energy efficiency and cost savings.

Additionally, raising awareness and engaging stakeholders in the decarbonisation process are vital for creating a shared understanding and garnering support. Beyond commercial heating, comprehensive sustainability strategies encompassing lighting, insulation, waste reduction, and renewable energy sources can further solidify the commitment to environmental stewardship. Together, businesses and housing associations can lead the way toward a greener, more sustainable future.

This article and other blog’s by Joe Bradbury appear regularly on Mitsubishi Electric’s The Hub, visit les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/the-hub

n HA ARTICLE 6 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Image © Adobe Stock

Let’s talk hardship and dignity

by Graham Ayres, Chairman and CEO of Charis

As we bask in the summer heat, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the fact that the colder months will be upon us in the blink of an eye, and the same issues caused by poverty and hardship will be upon us once again. Not to bring a downer on the lifting of moods that the summer brings, but the outlook for the winter is not offering us any relief.

This article is not to list out the litany of misery that is piling up for vulnerable households who are already struggling - rather, we want to highlight the vast array of support and resources that Charis can offer social landlords in a bid to alleviate the struggles of their residents.

The mental health charity, Mind, has written extensively about the links between an individual’s housing situation and their emotional well-being. When money is tight, this leads to stress, anxiety and panic attacks, lack of sleep and depression. Too often, individuals can get caught in a downward spiral, from which it gets harder to escape without someone holding out a firm hand of support.

n Instant access to emergency funding

The struggle to pay bills is the biggest source of anxiety for thousands of households - and that struggle is only going to get worse as the cost of living continues to rise beyond wage levels. While there is government help available through the Cost of Living Payments, which have been extended through to 2024, social landlords can offer additional support quickly, easily and securely to further alleviate the lack of dignity and self-respect that poverty can cause.

n Let’s Talk Energy

Charis is probably best known for its close partnerships with some of the UK’s largest energy suppliers. The company collaborates annually with

a number of suppliers to offer debt support, as well as providing free white goods and advice on energy saving. The Let’s Talk fund is one of our most wellknown. It is aptly named when you consider that simply talking about a problem helps to alleviate stress and is often the first (and most difficult) step to take when seeking a solution to a constant worry.

The biggest resource that Charis provides housing associations when it comes to the financial, practical and pastoral support they can offer their residents is the Charis Shop, a fully automated digital platform that overhauls the efficiencies and handling of funds administration. In short, this means that landlords with a Charis Shop account can distribute emergency vouchers and digital payment cards within minutes, securely, and with full back-end transparency for reporting and auditing purposes.

While energy vouchers and digital payment cards (we have actually issued over £2.6m on our cards alone since last autumn) are the most common draw on funds, residents can also apply for vouchers to cover clothing, food and shopping, furniture and household essentials such as bedding and curtains, and even DIY vouchers. In short, these are all items that help to give back an individual’s sense of peace of mind and dignity.

n Taking care of the present, building for the future

From this, Charis can help further by partnering with housing associations in more empowering schemes that are focused on helping people get back into work, retraining them in different professions, and even providing start-up grants for those demonstrating a more entrepreneurial mindset.

Through its Shop platform, Charis can set up multiple bespoke project-specific funding streams depending on the provenance of the money. This gives the housing association much greater control and checks over its disbursement, lowering associated costs to optimise the impact of the money on the beneficiaries themselves. Fully automated auditable reports that comply with statutory regulations can be produced in minutes, saving finance officers hours of additional work involved in compiling these reports by hand.

Charis was originally established 20 years ago to simplify the administration of grants. Over the years, the company has recognised its role in helping to improve the emotional well-being of households throughout the UK. We may be a few steps removed, but it is still an issue that underpins our values and drives the continuing improvements we make to our services for social landlords.

www.charisgrants.com

n HA ARTICLE 8 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Image © Adobe Stock Graham Ayres Image © Charis

“When money is tight, this leads to stress, anxiety and panic attacks, lack of sleep and depression. Too often, individuals can get caught in a downward spiral, from which it gets harder to escape without someone holding out a firm hand of support.”

Slam dunk for One Can

A community basketball court has been given an impressive makeover thanks to Bradite One Can.

Brinsley Parish Council in Nottinghamshire successfully applied for a National Lottery grant to spruce up the basketball facilities in its local park. The job of repainting the fencing was given to Sean McGrory, a sole trader running SM Paint and Decorating Services in Nottingham. Although never having used One Can previously Sean was a member of Bradite’s Facebook group and sought advice from other users as to what product would be best for the job in hand. The answer came back ‘try One Can’. The job was completed using the paint’s eggshell finish to spray the fencing in black and to pick out the posts in brush-applied white.

Sean is no doubt that One Can was the product for the job. “I was very impressed with it. It really goes on well, has good coverage and a good finish,” he says, adding; “It also dries quickly which is a key factor in getting the job done.”

He will certainly be using One Can again and has been approached by the Parish Council for other work around the park.

BRADITE: www.bradite.com

New video highlights Actis’ determination to lead the way in sustainability

Insulation specialist Actis has created a video highlighting its environmental credentials.

The video examines Actis’ threefold ‘doing more with less’ approach to sustainability - using fewer raw materials, using no water during the production process and using minimal energy during manufacture. In fact, its energy represents just two per cent of the manufacturing cost of the products.

And its carbon footprint is very low compared with that of other insulation products, at less than 2kg per sq m of CO2

By recycling all offcuts and feeding them back into the production process, Actis manages to create a zero waste, infinitely recyclable product. At the user end too, the flexible nature of the product, enabling it to be moulded to fit between timbers, means waste is minimised. The fact that Eolis HC and the Hybrid products are so light - being largely made of air - means each pallet of product contains more U-value than an equivalent-sized pallet of traditional insulation. And fewer pallets equals fewer trucks, less fuel, lower road congestion and lower diesel emissions. Watch the ‘Doing More with Less’ video: www.insulation-actis.com/ourcommitments.html

ACTIS: www.insulation-actis.com

Price reduction on Stelrad K3 radiators

Great news for social housing professionals from leading radiator manufacturer Stelrad Radiators with the news that their sector leading K3 radiator’s are now reduced in price by over 30%. The K3 radiator range offers three panels and three sets of fins to increase the heating capacity of a radiator with the same radiator footprint as a K2 by an additional 50%.

It’s key to remember that radiators are compatible with all heating systems – traditional and renewable - when sized correctly and supported by superior levels of insulation in a home.

K3 radiators have been quite common in mainland Europe for more than 10 years, but have only begun to feature in the UK in the last couple of years in any quantity. Stelrad initially offered just its best-selling Compact radiator in K3 format, but added three more of its radiators designs in a K3 option – its Elite radiators, its Compact with Style and its Planar designs.

As heat pumps become more widely accepted and increasingly used in new build developments around the country, the use of K3 radiators is expected to multiply many times over until they are almost the ‘norm’ for UK homes.

Much thought has gone into the latest radiator developments and it’s all to ensure that the radiators available from Stelrad are ‘fit for the future’ – able to continue providing the levels of heat required in homes in the UK to keep everyone comfortable.

STELRAD: www.stelrad.com | www.stelrad.ie

Donaldson Timber Systems launches house range

Leading UK offsite timber frame manufacturer, Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS), has launched the Donaldson Timber Systems House Range.

The range of 18 core house types includes cottage flats with a mix of 1 and 2 bedrooms; semi-detached and detached 2-bed bungalows; and a selection of detached, semidetached, and terraced homes of 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms.

DTS worked closely with experienced architects and planning consultants and designed the range in conjunction with a leading UK housebuilder to ensure the house types met regulatory housing needs across the UK.

The homes are designed to maximise the benefits of Design for Manufacture of DTS’ Sigma II closed panel timber frame system, as well as the site installation for both the superstructure and all follow-on trades. The specified components are also consistent, using a limited range of window sizes and uniform bathroom and WC setting-out to ensure the efficient procurement of materials from a variety of manufacturers.

Each home also incorporates individual design flexibility to allow for changes like the addition of showers in ground floors; built-in wardrobes; additional kitchen storage; and space for air source heat pump hot water cylinders, so they are future-proofed for simple adaptions to suit lifestyle changes or improved energy efficiency.

Utilising DTS’ Sigma II closed panel timber frame system, the house range provides long-term energy efficiency; meets and exceeds Homes England’s minimum requirement for a Pre-Manufactured Value (PMV) of 55% using only the timber frame build system; and allows the frames to be windproof and watertight on site in one day. The homes are also land-efficient, with the width of each floorplan reduced to ensure roads, footpaths and services are minimised, and a consistent depth of floorplan allows different house types to be simply built as terraced blocks.

DONALDSON TIMBER SYSTEMS: www.donaldsontimbersystems.com

n PRODUCT NEWS 10 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Image © Bradite Image © Stelrad Image © Donaldson Timber Systems

Siderise - integrity in all they do

In 2017, the Grenfell Tower tragedy sent shockwaves around the world.

The horror was made all the worse when it became apparent that many of the 72 deaths could have been avoided had the 24 storey building been specified to higher fire safety standards when it was refurbished just two years before.

Six years on, numerous stakeholders in the building construction products industry are still pushing for change to make sure those who perished that night didn’t die in vain.

One of those is Adam Turk, CEO of Siderise, a company specialising in passive fire solutions for multi-storey buildings.

n A desire for change

“I’ve never felt there’s as much drive and momentum for change as there is currently,” he says.

Adam, who has worked in the construction products arena for more than three decades, is urging housing associations to think more deeply about the standards and quality of passive fire protection they use when constructing new properties.

n A new code

As an Officer of the Construction Products Association (CPA) and Chair of its Marketing Integrity Group (MIG), Adam has been taking a lead role in advising regulators and legislators on the emerging ‘Code for Construction Product Information’ (CCPI), a new industry code initiated as a response to the review of building regulations and fire safety in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy.

He wants products and materials manufacturers to sign up to the new code, which seeks to improve the marketing of construction product information, and believes property developers should strive to exceed current fire safety regulations when constructing high rise premises.

Adam, who has been instrumental in pushing for new regulations, including for a second stairwell in multi storey towers, says his firm has spent decades developing expertise around passive fire insulation materials and installation techniques. He is also optimistic that the industry has learned from the mistakes of the past.

n Learning the lessons

He commented: “If you go back to chapter 7 of Dame Judith Hackitt’s report post Grenfell, and read between the lines of what she’s saying, what she’s really talking about is if everybody who had worked on the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower had known everything they should have known about the products they were using, they would never have used the products that they did.

“This to me is the challenge that has started this whole piece around ‘code’. I was very fortunate to be asked to chair the working group to respond to the report from which came the ‘code’, that I co-authored. The code talks about providing information about construction products that can be trusted.

n Raising the bar

“To be trusted, product information has to pass five acid tests: information has to be clear, accurate, up to date, accessible and unambiguous. What we’re saying is there’s no point training someone to be highly competent in a role but giving them duff information that they can’t rely upon. Equally there’s no point providing fantastic information if the person that’s using it isn’t competent to do so. So those two go hand in hand. The CCPI forces all building product manufacturers

to raise their game. It raises the bar and creates a higher playing field to produce product information that can be trusted.

n What housing associations need to think about

“First and foremost, when they’re designing their buildings they need to ensure the design has been done in a robust way and critically, that the performance criteria is clear. What is it that you need your building to do and therefore what are the performance criteria of the products going into that building?

“Then they need to ensure that through the tendering process that this is not diluted - which is something we often see. They also need to ensure the people working on the project are competent at what they do, and ensure that the manufacturers involved in providing products are code compliant.

“They need to say to their supply chain, if you want to supply us then you’re going to need to be code compliant because that way we know we can trust the information on the products that we’re using.”

n Is the CCPI going to be mandatory?

The code was conceived in 2018 and the first manufacturers are now going through the verification process. Adam says it will take another two years to get a ‘decent volume’ of manufacturers signed up.

“It’s not mandatory yet,” he said. “There’s a lot of work for manufacturers to get up to speed to these regulations. There’s thousands of SME (small

“If fire gets to the outside of the building it can exploit the gap, and it’s almost like a chimney effect, it sucks itself around the outside of the building very quickly.”

n FIRE PROTECTION & TENANT SAFETY: Cover Story 12 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

“The other side of the coin is if you make something mandatory then you’re putting in place a piece of very fixed legislation...”

British passive fire protection manufacturer urges housing associations to join its mission to boost fire safety construction standards

to medium) companies in our industry and I think we need to give them time to adapt. We felt it’s something that probably needs five years before it can be considered mandatory.

“The other side of the coin is if you make something mandatory then you’re putting in place a piece of very fixed legislation, with no room to tweak it around the edges to account for all situations. We need to see the Code unfold and in use before we completely lock it down.”

n Should Housing Associations review approved or emerging plans?

“We often see organisations saying, ‘We’re building to what we’re allowed to build, we know things are changing, we know we should probably do it better but we’re getting away with it now’.

“What we’re trying to encourage is for them to build it as it’s supposed to be built. Build it correctly and it will stand the test of time.

“For instance, the single staircase rule is a really good example. If you had a choice, would you want to live on the 30th floor of a block of flats knowing there was only one way out in the event of a fire? I don’t think anyone would be comfortable with that.

“Our new campaign is ‘Go Beyond’ because we’re getting really frustrated with people saying, ‘maybe we should do that, but the minimum is this’. We’re saying go beyond, truly protect the building properly and do the right thing. The other side of Go Beyond is from Siderise in that we’ll go the extra mile and you’ll get a much greater level of technical support. Don’t just accept the minimum, look for proper training, proper benchmarking, digital records of fire protection installation etc…

“The big thing for housing associations is they own and run their properties, and they put people into them, so they have the ongoing responsibility. A lot of contractors just build and walk away, whereas housing associations will build to own, and so will have the accountability for the lifetime of the building. The discussion is mostly around fire but it’s actually much wider than that, there’s so many considerations where you see people not using the right quality of materials and products or they’re not installed correctly.”

n Siderise products

Current building regulations demand fire safety materials can maintain the fire compartmentation of a flat for two hours, keeping the fire in the property that it begins. Passive fire insulation products are used to close the gap between the shell of the building and the concrete or steel frame inside.

Adam explains: “If fire gets to the outside of the building it can exploit the gap, and it’s almost like a chimney effect, it sucks itself around the outside of the building very quickly.

“Our products are designed to extend the compartmentation. Our products sit between the floor slab / internal structure of the building and the final finish, and in the event of fire it prevents the fire from exploiting that gap.

“The product is manufactured in Maesteg near Bridgend in South Wales. We don’t manufacture anywhere else, it’s all British made. We first developed it in the early Eighties when Canary Wharf was going up, and there was a need to understand fire going round the outside of a building. Our products were used on three quarters of all buildings on Canary Wharf at that time.

“The reason Siderise has been successful is we’ve built our business on a very strong technical foundation. Currently we employ 193 people and at the last count 56 had technical competence in our products. That’s really important to us - we’ve invested an enormous amount of money in testing and have built our own fire test centre at a cost of around £1m.

“We’re testing products every day of the week, both in terms of research and development and to monitor ongoing quality. We have a very broad team that

provides support both by phone and by email plus we have our site services team that will go and do on-site training and benchmarking, helping customers with their first couple of installs and go back regularly to check what they’ve done.

“Finally, we have a digital inspection app and we train installers on how to use that. As they install the products, floor by floor, they photograph it, and that comes back to our office for us to approve or make comments. We can black mark things for non-conformance and we can ask them to go back and change something so that when the building is finished, everyone knows the fire protection is there and installed correctly.”

n Already Influencing the world

Siderise has already made a huge positive impact overseas, working in a range of countries, most significantly in Dubai on the Ciel Tower, soon to be the tallest hotel in the world.

They have also worked in Israel where they have played a part in raising the bar for the whole population.

Adam explains: “A member of my team raised concerns and felt that what they’re doing isn’t safe.

“He said to me I think I’ve caught the attention of the Israeli building regs people so he went off and did some work and some educational presentations.

“He was subsequently notified they were going to update their building regulations in response to the advice they’d received from Siderise.

“They did so last February and it contains our illustrations and it actually references our name on a number of pages. We were really chuffed with that because we’d managed to persuade not just one developer but a whole country, an advanced nation, to change what they were doing to make their buildings safer, and that to me just shows the impact of good knowledge and good advice.” www.siderise.com Images © Siderise

www.hamag.co.uk JUL/AUG 2023 13

“We’re saying go beyond, truly protect the building properly and do the right thing...”

Aluminium Balcony Refurbishment Project at The Kingsbury Building: A Safe and Sleek Solution

Refurbishment of pre-existing balcony materials is essential to ensure they are futureproof and fall in line with current regulations, with additional safety features more important than ever in residential buildings. We spoke with Richard Izzard, managing director of AliDeck, to find out how they ensured project success was built-in with leaseholder safety in mind.

Balconies are an important part of many multistorey multi-occupancy buildings, providing residents with a space to relax and enjoy the outdoors. However, balconies can also be a source of danger if they are not properly maintained. In recent years, there have been a number of highprofile incidents involving balconies, highlighting the importance of using safe and compliant materials.

AliDeck recently partnered with Approved Installer, Alu-Installations, on the completed balcony refurbishment project at the Kingsbury Building in Islington, London. The project involved replacing the existing timber decking and undersides with noncombustible AliDeck Junior Ridged decking boards and AliClad Flow soffit-cladding.

“We are committed to ensuring a safe future for the thousands of leaseholders, building owners, and property managers who face risks every day.”

Richard Izzard, managing director of AliDeck, said “The new aluminium decking is A-rated, making it compliant with current fire safety regulations. It is also highly durable and will require very little maintenance. The aluminium soffit-cladding provides effective drainage, preventing water from accumulating on the balconies and balconies below.”

The balcony decking surfaces were becoming an eyesore for residents, deterring them from using this essential living space. The undersides of the balconies were also a serious hazard, as they had begun to break apart and fall away, posing a risk to occupants and those below.

The solution was clear: refurbish the decking boards with a non-combustible solution to meet regulations and futureproof the balconies with effective drainage to prevent further risk.

That’s where AliDeck provide the solution. As a leading supplier of aluminium decking and cladding systems for balconies, their product range across their four brands of balcony products are noncombustible, making them a safe and compliant

choice for housing associations in line with BS8579:2020 and PAS 9980:2022.

AliClad Flow was specifically designed to provide viable drainage options to balcony manufacturers. It makes for an ideal solution to achieve effective balcony drainage sealed within the balcony underside and starter trim to provide a seamless finish.

With its clean, striking aesthetics, AliClad solutions provide practical functionality, such as the ability to manage wastewater or create an imperforate layer that limits the spread of fire.

“We are committed to ensuring a safe future for the thousands of leaseholders, building owners, and property managers who face risks every day.”

Continued Richard. “The residents of The Kingsbury Building on Horsell Road can now look forward to utilising their newly refurbished A-Rated aluminium decking balconies all year round.”

One of the key benefits of aluminium is that it is naturally resistant to moulds, algae, alkali, and bitumen, requiring very little maintenance required outside of regular cleaning. AliDeck provide a maintenance schedule on their website to ensure best practice can be followed.

The project was completed successfully, on time and within budget to the delight of the property manager. The project is a great example of how aluminium can be used to improve the safety and appearance of balconies in high-rise buildings.

If you’re a housing association or building owner, you may be considering a refurbishment of your balconies to avoid any concerns with EWS1. AliDeck can help you to choose the right materials and installers for your project. AliDeck have a strong list of Approved Installers, such as Alu-installations, and AliDeck customers who can help you to assess your needs and develop a tailored solution.

AliDeck are committed to providing safe and compliant balcony solutions, using only the highest quality materials, with highly skilled and experienced Approved Installers ready to help you to achieve project success.

If you would like to discuss this case study or AliDeck’s range of aluminium decking and balcony components in more detail, please contact 01622 534 032 or email info@alideck.co.uk www.alideck.co.uk

n FIRE PROTECTION & TENANT SAFETY 14 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Images © AliDeck

Housing Solutions and Aico announce IoT trial partnership across 100 homes

Housing Solutions, a leading social housing provider based in Maidenhead, has recently commenced a 100 home trial of Aico’s award-winning Connected Home Solution. The project is aimed at improving the overall safety and wellbeing of residents, as part of the organisation’s focus on safety and energy efficiency, while enabling Housing Solutions to take a proactive approach to any issues.

This is Housing Solutions’ largest deployment of IoT devices in their housing stock to date. Aico’s HomeLINK Environmental Sensors are designed to measure temperature, humidity and CO2 within a home; by providing real-time data, the sensors can help to prevent issues forming by providing early warning through insights. These insights include damp and mould risk, cold home risk, heat loss, excess cold and heat and indoor air quality.

Richard Harvey, Assistant Director of Digital Transformation and Organisational Design at Housing Solutions, has said “Housing Solutions are excited to start the trial of installations of Aico environmental sensors within 100 properties. The sensors will give us a better understanding of environmental risks and factors, allowing us to proactively identify any issues affecting our residents and their homes through active monitoring. In addition, residents can check the conditions of their home to make informed decisions around energy use in the current cost of living challenges. If the trial is successful, we will look at rolling these out to the rest of our stock in 2024/25.”

Oliver Barlow, Regional Specification Manager for Aico, added “We are working closely with various teams at Housing Solutions to ensure that they are going to get the most out of these systems and utilise the data effectively. Making sure that we take a holistic approach to IoT enables us to get the greatest return on investment.”

The deployment of the Aico’s HomeLINK Environmental Sensors, is part of Housing Solutions’ commitment to combatting damp and mould and to improve the lives of their residents. The sensors will be installed in properties over the coming months, with a view to completing the rollout by the end of the year.

To find out more about the HomeLINK Connected Home Solution, please visit: www.aico.co.uk/homelink/

n FIRE PROTECTION & TENANT SAFETY 16 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

“The sensors will give us a better understanding of environmental risks and factors, allowing us to proactively identify any issues affecting our residents and their homes through active monitoring.”

Images © Aico

Smoke control dampers: your Colt guide.

by Conor Logan, Technical Director

Smoke control dampers are a very important part of a building’s fire safety system, but as they are often hidden away in ducts and walls, it is easy for building managers and owners to forget that they require regular maintenance and testing.

To get started on the topic of smoke control dampers (or ‘smoke dampers’, as they are sometimes called), let’s first explore exactly what they are and why they play an important role in keeping buildings and people safe.

• In basic HVAC terminology, a damper is a mechanism that allows air to flow when it is open and limits airflow when it is closed.

A smoke and fire damper is a device that permits the flow of air when it is open, but when it is closed, it not only limits airflow but also blocks the passage of smoke and fire. On activation, whether automatically by a detection system, or physically through the effect of heat on a thermal device, these dampers close to prevent the passage of fire and smoke from one area of a building to another. They only re-open when manually reset.

• Smoke control dampers permit the flow of smoke into or through a smoke control system when open, but may also close to prevent fire spread. Therefore, they may open or close at different times depending on the smoke control strategy for the building.

Smoke control dampers are crucial components of fire protection systems, particularly when it comes to preserving a building’s fire safety strategy.

They offer direct fire resistance when closed and are tested to maintain their opening area under heat conditions when open. These dampers are invaluable in safeguarding the structural integrity of a building and preventing the occupants from harm in the event of a fire.

n How smoke dampers work

Fire dampers (also known as FDs or MFDs) are designed to confine fire to a single area. fire and smoke dampers (aka, FSDs, MFSDs) operate in the same way, but are better sealed to reduce the amount of smoke spread. Both of these damper types should be CE (or UKCA) marked to EN 15650.

All smoke and fire dampers require a thermal device as a final failsafe. When the temperature exceeds the operational limit, the damper closes. Only motorised dampers can be easily tested and reset remotely, but confirming that they have operated correctly can be challenging since they are usually concealed in ducting above ceilings and in walls.

Mechanical dampers that rely on a thermal fuse and electromechanical dampers require manual intervention to reset them after operation. This makes testing and verifying their operation significantly more difficult.

If you need help carrying out the weekly and monthly tests that dampers require, contact our service and maintenance teams today, talk to our team about how we can help. Email us at service@ uk.coltgroup.com or call us on 02393 491735.

in the market do not currently comply with this standard. Failure to do so may result in a noncompliant building that will require you to install compliant dampers retroactively. This can be an expensive undertaking, particularly since smoke dampers are frequently hidden in ducts and walls.

If you are uncertain whether the dampers in your building are compliant, book a free site survey with our team to ensure your building is compliant –email us at service@uk.coltgroup.com

n Types of smoke dampers

Whilst all smoke control dampers effectively operate in the same way, there are different aesthetics that could be more suited to particular projects.

• Standard grille dampers:

The most commonly used smoke control dampers are the louvred ‘damper and grille’ type, similar to the type seen in the picture. These dampers tend to be cheaper and, as mentioned previously, need to comply to BS EN 12101-8.

n Smoke control damper standards

CE labelling requires all smoke control dampers to adhere to the Product Standards EN 15650 and BS EN 12101-8. These standards ensure that the product is uniform and delivered to the same specification and standard as tested. Any deviation or modification from the installation instructions in the manual necessitates a new test or approval from the Local Building Control for the dampers.

It is crucial to verify with the manufacturer whether the smoke dampers you intend to install are certified to BS EN 12101-8. Many smoke dampers available

They are best used for projects where design details are not as important (such as lower end commercial or residential developments or industrial buildings and usually do not offer insulation as one of the characteristics).

• Hidden dampers:

Less commonly specified are the more discreet, ‘hidden damper’ category. As the name implies, these dampers have been designed to blend into the building in a more visually-appealing way.

n FIRE PROTECTION & TENANT SAFETY 18 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Colt’s

“Fire dampers are designed to confine fire to a single area. fire and smoke dampers operate in the same way, but are better sealed to reduce the amount of smoke spread.”

continued on Page 20...

Naturally, these dampers are therefore better suited to projects where building designers want to go the extra mile with ensuring the perfect design finish. Examples of projects where ‘hidden dampers’ might be specified are in high-end commercial or residential projects, such as hotels, apartments or offices.

The Colt Defender F2 is the most discreet smoke control damper on the market that is fully certified to BS EN 12101-8. If you would like more information on the Defender F2, get in touch with our team at project.admin@uk.coltgroup.com

• Damper maintenance:

As dampers form part of a building’s smoke control system, they are required to be inspected, tested and maintained by competent individuals at regular intervals throughout the year. This is a requirements of the RRO (Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Act 2005).

BS 9999 provides a best practice framework for fire safety and includes standards for damper

maintenance and fire damper testing. It states that all fire dampers should meet the criteria of fire resistance for a stated period and that:

‘All fire dampers should be tested by a competent person at regular intervals not exceeding one year, and to be repaired or replaced immediately if found to be faulty. Spring-operated fire dampers should be tested annually and fire dampers situated in dust-laden and similar atmospheres should be tested much more frequently, at periods suited to the degree of pollution.’

“...we recommend that your fire and smoke control dampers are serviced at least once a year, are inspected at 6-monthly intervals and have 3-monthly functionality tests carried out...”

To ensure you stay compliant and your buildings are properly protected in the event of a fire, we recommend that your fire and smoke control dampers are serviced at least once a year, are inspected at 6-monthly intervals and have 3-monthly functionality tests carried out by a competent servicer of fire and smoke control equipment.

Titon extends popular Titon Firesafe® range

Titon has extended the market leading Titon FireSafe® range by introducing the new noncombustible Titon FireSafe® 100mm Push Through Pull Kit that is ideal for Social Housing, new build, and refurb residential applications.

The Titon FireSafe® 100mm Push Through Pull Kit is a fire rated terminal and ducting kit that has been designed specifically for applications that need to meet be non-combustible, as set out in Approved Document B (fire safety) Volume 1: Dwellings, 2019 edition.

Titon FireSafe® 100mm Push Through Pull Kit is performance tested to BS EN13141-2:2010 and corrosion salt sprayed BS EN ISO 9227:2012. Constructed from 0.6mm electrogalvanized sheet steel (A1) and polyester powder coated (terminal only) to classification A2-s1, d0.

The Titon FireSafe® 100mm Push Through Pull Kit has been developed to work with Titon’s energy efficient constant flow Titon Ultimate® dMEV, which has been tested in accordance with the latest SAP10 dMEV (Consp10) test standard introduced on 15th June 2022. The Titon FireSafe® 100mm Push Through Pull Kit is also compatible with the vast majority of 100mm fans on the market.

The new Titon FireSafe® 100mm Push Through Pull Kit is easy to install and cut down to a desired length, it’s perfect for onsite installation when current systems need to be changed or new ones need to be installed. Speaking about the introduction Roy Byom, Titon’s Social Housing Manager stated, “This product will enable installers with achieving a fire rated through the wall duct application, from ground floor to properties at higher levels.”

The new product comes in Terracotta and White, with special paint finishes available on request, depending on the quantity required.

TITON: www.titon.com/uk

If you need help carrying out these essential tasks, get in touch with our team today on service@ uk.coltgroup.com or call us on 02393 491735.

www.coltinfo.co.uk

Colt

Milton-Keynes based Grand Union Housing Group has introduced smart home technologies across its housing portfolio of 12,500 properties to improve resident safety, reduce damp and mould concerns, and ensure compliance with shifting regulations on social housing.

Aico’s HomeLINK Connected Home Solution IoT sensors were selected to monitor real-time indoor environmental conditions such as humidity and temperature, which are the main causes of damp and can lead to mould; and fire and carbon monoxide events. Access to this data has saved Grand Union’s team of 400 precious time and resources while freeing them up to better support their customers.

Grand Union wanted to deliver cost-effective, efficient, relevant and quality services to ensure resident safety and comfort. So, it introduced digital technologies, including Aico’s advanced 3000 Series of Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide alarms, as part of its corporate strategy. By implementing Aico’s solution, Grand Union is quickly able to identify and implement urgent building repairs and maintenances, while also ensuring properties remain legally compliant and fit for human habitation.

Aico’s HomeLINK Internet of Things (IoT) sensors provide accurate automated data collection, which eradicates human error, and gives Grand Union actionable insights to strengthen residential safety, health and wellbeing. The housing provider has also developed an environmental sustainability strategy focused on the thermal efficiency of its entire housing portfolio. This new strategy ensures all its homes are well insulated, as well as offering a range of heating options to increase efficiency.

AICO: www.aico.co.uk/homelink

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continued from Page 18...

Images ©

Grand Union Housing Group turns to smart home tech to gather real-time information on damp and mould, while ensuring data-driven compliance

Image © Adobe Stock Image © Titon

How Sava is supporting Cottsway Housing on reducing carbon emissions and energy costs for tenants

Cottsway is West Oxfordshire’s largest housing provider and has over 5,100 homes across Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. Cottsway are working to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs for customers in these homes and are working with Sava to help achieve these objectives.

n What did Cottsway want to achieve?

At the beginning of the project Cottsway held only enough energy data to calculate ratings within Sava Intelligent Energy for a small number of properties. Cottsway had commissioned a large number of EPCs over several years which they no longer had access to. Cottsway also held a lot of useful energy data in separate asset datasets such as PV information and gas boiler makes and models.

The Sava team worked with Cottsway to create a robust data baseline using Open Data Communities data. This provided access to most of the data from previous EPC assessments. From this baseline, Sava were then able to align the additional data Cottsway already held (PV, boiler etc.) to increase the quality and accuracy of the dataset.

“The benefits we had from Sava doing the data work for us were: A, speed of database building...B, the more detailed understanding of how the data fits together and what the different inputs mean...C, it has been good to work with Sava...”

Lynne Berry, Asset Intelligence Officer for Cottsway said: “The benefits we had from Sava doing the data work for us were: A, speed of database building (it would have taken us ages to get this volume of data correct). B, the more detailed understanding of how the data fits together and what the different inputs

mean – this helps us with analysis and improving our data going forward. C, it has been good to work with Sava; as well as being knowledgeable and thoroughly competent, they have also been good at saying what will be delivered when and explaining what will happen next.”

n What were the outcomes?

Sava provided Cottsway with:

• Energy (SAP) and EI (Carbon) ratings for the whole stock where data was available

• A populated copy of Sava Intelligent Energy

• A populated KGI to allow Cottsway to upload all gathered data into their asset management system

• Continued assistance with any errors or data queries

n What were the benefits of working with Sava?

Cottsway commented that “having undertaken our Sava Intelligent Energy training we are now ready

to dive in and we can see how we will be able to set up plans and inputs for various projects and improvements in a way that will really save us data analysis time and how we will be able to do new analyses we would not have been able to do without having this set up.”

Sava asked Cottsway if they would recommend our consultancy services to other housing providers. Lynne replied “We thought we could set this up without consultancy, and we might have been able to muddle through, but it is so much more efficient and faster to have the consultancy team at Sava to hold our hand and steer us and our data in the right direction. Darren is extremely knowledgeable and has been invaluable to the project.”

Darren Walker from Sava commented; “I was very happy with the final dataset we were able to provide Cottsway. When we complete this type of work for clients who require multiple sources of data to be combined, it can seem very daunting at first, as the data sources don’t always agree with one another. In these cases, one of our main aims is to document all the conflicts in the data provided, as well as document the educated inferences we make to get as many properties as possible to return energy ratings. This takes the form of a simple excel sheet that is supplied along with the dataset which allows our clients to focus on improving or confirming the data of the most complicated properties.”

n How can Sava help your organisation?

If you would like to find out more about how Sava can help analyse data, assist with zero carbon goals or provide strategic advice and research, please contact us at technology@sava.co.uk or read more here: www.sava.co.uk/towards-zero-carbon/ analytics-and-strategic-support/ Images © Sava

22 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk n HEATING, VENTILATION, CONDENSATION & MOULD CONTROL

Flow2One

Help reduce the conditions which create potential for mould growth and poor air quality in your housing stock

Often residents do not understand the importance of correct ventilation in the properties, and without realising it they can even create the poor air quality in their own dwelling, and the higher relative humidity levels, which may ultimately lead to mould growth

Some may even tape up ventilation grills as they don’t like to “feel the cold” especially as they perceive this wastes energy they are paying for.

Sacrificing the ability to exchange stale internal air with incoming fresh air can allow the build-up of carbon dioxide, and also moisture in the room, particulary whilst occupied.

The ThermaVent “Flow2One” Single Room Heat Recovery Ventilator brings fresh air into a living room or bedroom, via fans pushing and pulling air through a 100mm (4”) diameter duct, which is mounted through an external wall. The same duct dimension as a traditional axial wall mounted fan.

The Flow2One pre-warms the fresh incoming air by way of a plate heat exchanger, an almost energy free solution.

The filters also trap dust and pollen, and a reversing feature automatically operates for a few minutes every 24 hours to clear the unit of dust by removing it to the outside.

Unlike most traditional axial wall or window glass mounted fans, which tend to use inefficient AC motors, the Flow2One incorporates two fans with DC motors (onboard conversion from 230v AC supply). The unit only uses a total 1.9W at lower, or 2.7W of power at higher extraction setting, so costs approx. 2 pence of electricity per 24 hours when in continuous use, based on current energy tariffs in the UK of 34p per kW.

Installation is similar to a traditional bathroom fan, a 4 inch/100 mm circular duct through the wall, and a fused 230v AC electrical supply. The Flow2One is supplied complete with an external rain shield. A remote control is included for the resident to switch on/off or change fan speed.

Housing Associations can purchase the Flow2One from ThermaVent, with discounts available for volume.

Extra Boost

“The ThermaVent “Flow2One” Single Room Heat Recovery Ventilator brings fresh air into a living room or bedroom, via fans pushing and pulling air through a 100mm (4”) diameter duct...”

www.thermalventilation.co.uk/flow-2-one

- for use with Air Source Heat Pumps

The Radfan Extra Boost is the latest model in the Radfan range, but designed with air/ground source heat pump system applications in mind.

Just as the Classic Radfan, this model helps make residents feel warmer more quickly so potentially reducing their energy bills, and reduces the conditions which promote the growth of mould.

When fitting air/ground source heat pump systems in place of gas boilers, it’s best to replace the traditional radiators with larger surface area output models, or under floor heating solutions because of the lower hot water circulating temperatures typically found with heat pump systems. However, because Radfan Extra Boost models have both more and faster fans than the Radfan Classic, as a compromise they can be sited on top of existing radiators and could potentially save up to £4000 of installation costs. They will improve existing radiators performances and save cost and disruption of radiator replacement plus re-decoration.

The resident (or heat pump system commissioning engineer) can adjust the heat draw off according to the rooms use/function by altering the speed of the

“The Radfan Extra Boost will improve existing radiators performances and save cost and disruption of radiator replacement plus re-decoration.”

internal fans via a multi position switch located on the front face of the plug top power supply unit using a small key provided. There are 6 possible settings from 4.5 up to 12 vdc.

Higher speed settings are good for larger volume rooms possibly with vaulted ceilings. Alternatively,

on the lower voltage settings the Radfan will be significantly quieter, but move correspondingly less air. Better for smaller volume rooms and bedrooms.

The Radfan Extra Boost also incorporates the Summer mode switch which facilitates bypassing the internal thermostat in the Radfan that normally prevents the fans from starting unless the radiator is warm. With the switch on Summer mode setting the Radfan Extra Boost provides air circulation in the room regardless of the radiator temperature (if the ASHP is struggling to get the radiator temperatures high enough).

The Radfan Extra Boost is available as a either small or medium model, 56cms or 96cms long.

Housing Associations can purchase in bulk, directly from Radfan www.radfan.co

Images © Radfan

n HEATING, VENTILATION, CONDENSATION & MOULD CONTROL 24 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

More information on the Radfan Extra Boost can be found by viewing the video at the following link: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/823979355

Image © ThermaVent

Clean air needs more than a day

George Clarke looks at the importance of good indoor air

The 15th of June is annual Clean Air Day in the UK which focuses on ‘outdoor air quality’ and reducing outdoor pollution levels.

The United Nations has chosen the 7th of September to be the ‘International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies’, which along with their ‘BreatheLife’ campaign also looks at the detrimental effects of poor outdoor air quality.

All very important when air pollution is so bad.

But the work that Mitsubishi Electric and BESA (Building Engineering Services Association) have done, focusing on ‘Indoor’ air quality (IAQ) really struck a chord with me.

Their BASH Guide (Buildings As Safe Havens)1 is well worth looking at if you would like to know more about improving IAQ.

When I was young, I remember being inside buildings when the quality of the indoor air just didn’t seem right. Some buildings literally left a bad taste in my mouth. They were buildings with poor ventilation and too much stale air trapped inside them.

In stark contrast, I remember I loved spending time in my local public library, not just because I loved reading books, but because I can distinctly remember how clean the air was inside the building. It just felt fresh as soon as you walked in.

n A real killer

Poor air quality is deadly. Figures from Public Health England show that pollution causes between 24,000 and 36,000 deaths every year.

According to the government, air pollution is the 4th biggest killer after cancer, obesity and heart disease. Outdoor Air Quality really matters, but IAQ really matters too and I’m afraid we aren’t talking about that enough.

The air in our homes, schools and workplaces is contaminated with polluted air from outside, but also from impurities that are generated indoors.

This is something that affects all of us, but air pollution can be particularly damaging to children, whose lungs haven’t yet fully developed.

Take the tragic and heartbreaking story of Ella Roberta. Brought up in Southeast London and very healthy at birth.

Just before her 7th birthday she developed a chest infection that turned into a persistent cough. Ella was diagnosed with Asthma.

Unfortunately, asthma has become all too common to the point where, as a society, we just accept it. 5.4 million people in the UK are Asthmatic, 1.1 million of them children.

When I was at school, I remember friends having inhalers and sometimes suffering from asthma attacks.

It was awful to see. Frightening for them to experience. Being asthmatic and surrounded by very poor quaintly air can be fatal.

“Unfortunately, asthma has become all too common to the point where, as a society, we just accept it. 5.4 million people in the UK are Asthmatic, 1.1 million of them children.”

n Illegal levels of NOX

Just before her ninth birthday, on the 15th of February 2013, Ella died of a fatal asthma attack. Devastating!

On her original death certificate it said she died of ‘acute respiratory failure’. There was no mention of air pollution.

Ella’s mum, Rosalind, began to think that there may be a link between her daughter’s death and poor air quality, so she did some research.

She discovered that there were extremely high pollution levels in the area they lived the night Ella had her fatal asthma attack.

n HEATING, VENTILATION, CONDENSATION & MOULD CONTROL 26 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Image © Adobe Stock

The very heavily congested South Circular Road, near where they lived, had illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide caused by traffic.

I know the North and South Circular Roads very well and you can taste the disgustingly high levels of pollution when you’re close to them.

In 2019 there was a new inquest into Ella’s death and the findings made legal history.

The Coroner’s report provided powerful leverage for change.

He concluded “Air pollution was a significant contributory factor in BOTH the induction and exacerbations of (Ella’s) asthma….and she was exposed to levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and particular matter IN EXCESS of Word Health Organisation Guidelines”.

That pollution would have severely contaminated the inside of Ella’s home the night she died.

The coroner put the government on notice that “a failure to reduce air pollution to safe levels will cost lives”.

Ella’s death certificate was changed and she became the first person in the world to have ‘AIR POLLUTION’ listed as a cause of death on her death certificate.

Whenever I travel through a town or city with high levels of pollution, or when I’m inside a badly ventilated building with poor air quality, I think about her. We all should.

n A safe haven

If you live in an area with high levels of outside air pollution you will obviously want to minimise opening doors and windows.

This is a shame when we all love fresh air in the summer, but of course you don’t want air coming in if it’s bad.

You want to seal up your house to avoid poor quality air coming in and to reduce heat loss escaping out during the colder months, but the more your house is ‘sealed’ the more ventilation you need to remove the dirty air inside your home, which has originated from everyday activities.

Everything from cooking, dusting and sweeping creates particles of matter that aren’t great for our lungs.

Mechanical ventilation is the best way to do this, particularly good quality ventilation units that have very good filters within them, as they can allow clean, filtered air to come into your house, while also removing any dirty air you’ve created indoors.

Also, it is so important to avoid any damp anywhere in the house, particularly in high moisture areas like bathrooms and shower rooms.

Mould caused by damp is absolutely terrible for our lungs, our breathing and overall health and well-being.

So many people turn off their bathroom extractor fans because they are noisy, but they really shouldn’t! That extractor fan is doing a very important job.

n Energy efficient ventilation

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) is definitely the way forward and I’m pleased to say I’m seeing amazing systems being installed in so many good quality, new-build houses across the country.

They get rid of the poor quality air indoors, recycle the heat from that air and bring in good-quality fresh air that has been cleaned and filtered.

consume. We eat around 2kg of food per day and drink around 3kg of fluids per day, so it is only right we know exactly what we are consuming and what effect it has on our body.

But did you know that the average adult, when resting, inhales and exhales around 13kg of air per day and we have NO IDEA what it is in this air we are breathing.

Surely, this HAS to change, so we need more air monitoring, we need to be given more information about the quality of air where we live, we need better quality mechanical ventilation inside our homes AND we need to massively reduce the amount of air pollution we have in our towns and cities.

Clarke is an Architect, writer, TV presenter and Ecodan Ambassador

les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/products/ventilation

1 https://library.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/pdf/book/ Buildings_As_Safe_Havens_BASH#page-1

High-quality, well-designed MVHR systems such as Lossnay from Mitsubishi Electric can be life-changing in creating a healthier home. Clean air is so important.

But, just think for a moment about how little we know about the air we breathe around us.

Compare that lack of information with something like food and drink. When it comes to food and drink we are bombarded with information (and rightly so) about where it was produced, what is in it, how many calories it gives us etc.

We now know so much more about the food and drink we

www.hamag.co.uk JUL/AUG 2023 27

George

“...we need more air monitoring, we need to be given more information about the quality of air where we live, we need better quality mechanical ventilation inside our homes AND we need to massively reduce the amount of air pollution we have in our towns and cities.”

Image © Adobe Stock

Protecting lives at home

There are many unanswered questions dealing with damp, condensation & mould

Is damp and mould on the increase?

Are we ready to fix the problem?

Do we know enough about the causes?

Will the drive to insulate homes add to the problems?

Why is the mould returning after it has been cleaned off?

Why is there mould on clothing and furniture items?

Is the house damp?

A key understanding is that damp, condensation and mould are symptoms of a problem and, root causes can only be determined with an open collective approach and not a singular aspect.

Our trusted independent surveying and consultancy service embraces a host surveying aspects such is the influence on a mould outbreak.

For landlords, changing from a ‘reactive’ to a ‘proactive’ approach will likely form a process-change within their organisations and, Cornerstone can assist that journey with bespoke, selectable process improvements and support aligned to their existing significant and demonstrable experience.

Such assistance ranges from CPD accredited understanding of atmospheric and structural moisture behaviour to, using and recognising specialist equipment to uphold survey findings alongside their accurate data interpretation.

n HEATING, VENTILATION, CONDENSATION & MOULD CONTROL 28 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Our service is on the increase as we look to share our knowledge Property MOT® - as seen on TV To learn more and register your interest... 0344 846 0955 www.cornerstone-ltd.co.uk www.propertymot.uk Images © Cornerstone

Before we head into the next winter period, we are excited to announce we will be holding a detailed complimentary conference at the NSBRC Swindon on 27th September to openly discuss SMART Diagnosic Knowledge from key industry experts in line with your sought-after guidance of Property Health Management...for the long term.

The way we heat our homes must change … now is the ideal time to embrace a low carbon future

With energy costs under intense scrutiny, and new regulations coming into force in 2025 which will transform the way new homes are built and heated, the heat pump market is set to grow at pace.

Mark Derbyshire, Managing Director (Domestic) for Groupe Atlantic UK, Republic of Ireland and North America, outlines Ideal Heating’s offering to the social and new-build housing sectors.

To decarbonise the UK housing stock and transition into a low carbon economy, we must change the way we think about domestic heating.

Achieving this is about more than simply policy or technology. It is a mindset change that heating our homes more slowly, at a lower, yet more constant, temperature is the way to achieve greater performance and efficiency.

For social housing providers and new-build developers, there is a huge opportunity to make the switch from gas boilers to heat pumps and get ahead of the curve.

Heat pumps are perfectly suited to new-build housing developments, where the required infrastructure can be put into place more easily and homes can be built around the technology.

n From a name you know and trust

For social housing providers with tenants to take care of, we understand the importance of providing reliable, affordable energy.

If a tenant comes home to find their heating isn’t working, then the pressure is on the provider to get it sorted.

With Ideal Heating, our customers can have confidence that they can rely on our dedicated customer support team, 364 days a year, and receive a rapid, efficient response.

Our in-house team of service engineers are out and about across the UK helping customers with both servicing and repairs.

Our support to customers is world class and that’s a big part of why we’re the UK market leader in the domestic heating sector.

Our customers keep coming back to us because they receive a personal, tailored service which suits their needs.

Ideal Heating has over a century of experience and expertise in the heating industry and Groupe Atlantic is a European leader in heat pump technology. That combination means we’re confident in both the quality of our products and the package which supports them.

n New regulations, a new way of heating

From 2025, new homes must achieve a 31 per cent reduction in emissions compared to current energy efficiency standards.

30 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Mark Derbyshire, Managing Director (Domestic) at Groupe Atlantic UK, Republic of Ireland and North America, speaking at the launch of Logic Air. Guests from the social and new-build housing sectors were invited to The Gherkin to discover more about Ideal Heating’s new Logic Air heat pump.

n HEATING, VENTILATION, CONDENSATION &

“For social housing providers and new-build developers, there is a huge opportunity to make the switch from gas boilers to heat pumps and get ahead of the curve.”

MOULD CONTROL

It forms part of the Government’s Future Homes Standard, requiring new-build homes to be futureproofed with improved levels of energy efficiency.

Our nation’s housing stock contributes over a quarter of the UK’s total carbon emissions, so the reduction is vital to meet the Government’s 2050 net zero target.

This saving can be achieved in a number of ways, one of which is the installation of heat pumps.

Heat pumps are far more efficient and reliable when operating at low temperatures compared to fossil fuel boilers and, crucially, provide a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions.

It’s quiet to run and uses an R32 refrigerant which is safe, efficient and reliable.

We’re proud to bring to market a product that we believe is ideal, especially for the new-build and social housing sectors.

n A complete heating package

Our Logic Air heat pump forms one part of a trio of products which, together, form the complete package for the home.

Logic Air is supported by a best-in-class hot water cylinder and our Halo Air room thermostat. They integrate seamlessly and are quick to install, simple to commission and easy to use.

Our hot water cylinder has been designed within Groupe Atlantic by our expert team at Gledhill. It can generate hot water 49 per cent faster than many alternatives on the market, saving the customer time and money.

system, as well as identify any servicing which may need carrying out.

It means if a customer thinks their heat pump isn’t working to its maximum efficiency, or has any questions about the setup, they can simply pick up the phone and speak to one of our UK team.

In addition, social housing providers and landlords can access the data remotely from Halo Air in order to monitor and manage their housing stock.

While Logic Air is the beating heart of the home, it’s the full package which makes the product such a special offering.

n The time is now

The easiest time to install an air source heat pump is when the house is being built.

While retrofitting is possible in the majority of existing homes, it does bring with it additional challenges. These can range from the radiators not being large enough, or the home not insulated well enough, to achieve the optimum performance from the heat pump.

Installing an air source heat pump when the house is being built removes these complications and gives flexibility to the location and setup of the heating system.

Equally, social housing providers can future-proof their existing stock, enhance their sustainability credentials and enable their tenants to benefit from lower-cost heating.

Our message to the housing sector is this … now is the time to make the change and to adopt low carbon heating alternatives such as heat pumps.

According to the Heat Pump Association, the average heat pump creates 1.6 tonnes of CO2 per household, compared to 5.3 tonnes for an oil boiler or 3.7 tonnes for a gas boiler.

As we enter a new era for the way we heat our homes, heat pumps are certain to be right at the heart of the transition to a low carbon economy.

At Ideal Heating, that’s where Logic Air comes in.

Logic Air is Ideal Heating’s new monobloc heat pump for the UK domestic market. It’s purpose-designed to provide reliable, efficient low carbon heating and takes all of the learnings from our market-leading Logic range of boilers.

Tailored to the UK climate, Logic Air will deliver the same impressive performance in sun, rain, snow and ice.

Using Halo Air, our customer support team can access the performance and efficiency of the heating

Don’t wait until 2025 when the new regulations come into force. Start your low carbon heating journey today.

Images © JayJay Media Logic Air is Ideal Heating’s new monobloc heat pump for the UK domestic market. Ideal Heating’s Halo Air smart thermostat allows customers to monitor the performance and efficiency of their heating system.

• To find out more about Ideal Heating, visit www.idealheating.com www.hamag.co.uk JUL/AUG 2023 31

“Logic Air is Ideal Heating’s new monobloc heat pump for the UK domestic market. It’s purposedesigned to provide reliable, efficient low carbon heating...”

30 years of Kaizen at Mitsubishi Electric’s Livingston anniversary

by Achilleas Georgiou, Mitsubishi Electric

Don’t be surprised if visiting Mitsubishi Electric’s factory in Livingston, Scotland, when the local workforce talks of ‘Kaizen’. A Japanese term, it’s a fundamental principle of manufacturing for the company and means continuous improvement. And that’s what the Livingston factory has successfully achieved as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

A prime example of Kaizen manufacturing techniques and innovation is Mitsubishi Electric’s latest Ecodan heat pump, the R290. In fact, the fivemillionth product coming off the assembly line after 30 years of manufacturing at the Livingston factory was the Ecodan R290.

As we demand of ourselves a greater stretch to reach net zero, this newest Ecodan uses a natural refrigerant, R290, which has minimal environmental impact with a global warming potential (GWP) of 3. In addition to its low GWP, the R290 has flow temperatures of up to 75°C – this brings unbeatable benefits for home heating making it ideal for new build or retrofit properties.

The importance of this is emphasised by Russell Dean, Residential Product Group Director at Mitsubishi Electric: “We must decarbonise our building stock now, and changing the way we heat our homes will play a critical role in how this is achieved. The production of the Ecodan R290 means we can now provide a heat pump for every home, helping to drive heat pump adoption across the UK and Europe.”

On 6 July, the Livingston factory marked its 30th anniversary. Guests from government, Scottish Enterprise, industry, and housing providers, including Patrick Harvie MSP, the Scottish Government

“The Livingston factory has been manufacturing heat pumps since 2009...By supporting the manufacturing and installation of heat pumps, the factory plays a vital role in the transition to low carbon heating across the UK and Europe.”

Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Hannah Bardell, MP for Livingston, Tadashi Fujiwara, the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh, were given a tour of the advanced manufacturing facility and the opportunity to speak to employees, along with Shunji Kurita, President & CEO Mitsubishi Electric Europe.

The factory, with Mitsubishi Electric investment and government support, has expanded and staff numbers have significantly expanded over those years, now numbering more than 1,800 employees. Thirty staff members have been working at the Livingston factory for all those 30 years – that’s a loyal commitment the company is immensely proud of.

Over that long period, which has seen the appearance and proliferation of the world wide web and more recently the use of artificial intelligence, the world has become increasingly aware of the importance of countering climate change; and the Livingston factory has diversified from first producing air conditioning units to now being the largest producer of air source heat pumps in the UK.

“The Livingston factory has been manufacturing heat pumps since 2009,” said Rodney Ayre, Senior Department Manager at the Livingston factory. “Our anniversary offers an important opportunity to mark its invaluable contribution to the green economy. By supporting the manufacturing and installation of heat pumps, the factory plays a vital role in the transition to low carbon heating across the UK and Europe.”

Located next to the Livingston factory are two, at first glance, ordinary looking houses. But these houses were built as models for efficiency evaluation and research. With Ecodan heat pumps and with more than 800 sensors in each house, temperature, humidity, and consumption are measured. The investigative and thorough examination work that goes on in these houses helps to continue the design of smarter and more efficient heat pumps.

By combining eco-conscious techniques with its Kaizen approach, Mitsubishi Electric has developed and advanced heat pumps to now manufacture the Ecodan R290, which will be supplied across the UK and Europe.

www.ecodan.co.uk

n HEATING, VENTILATION, CONDENSATION & MOULD CONTROL 32 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

- Rodney Ayre, Senior Department Manager at the Livingston factory Image © Mitsubishi Electric Plaque unveiling for Livingston factory 30th anniversary Image © Mitsubishi Electric

“We must decarbonise our building stock now, and changing the way we heat our homes will play a critical role in how this is achieved.”

Russell Dean, Residential Product Group Director at Mitsubishi Electric (pictured)

First choice heat pump solution for social housing

The new LG R32 Monobloc range has already had a massive impact on the residential heat pump market in the UK. Its new Monobloc S version of the unit which combines the indoor and outdoor features in one module is connected by only water piping, eliminating the need for refrigerant piping, making this heat pump an installer’s dream when it comes to ease of installation.

Installers and specifiers will love the new Monobloc ‘S’ – the all-in-one concept and reduced weight of the unit makes for easier and quicker installations. The new version requires lower amounts of refrigerant compared to the existing model – 16.7%

less in fact – reducing emissions and lessening its environmental impact still further. The new version features LG’s revolutionary R1 Compressor technology which offers advanced efficiency, reliability and operational range due in part to the enhanced tilting motion of the scroll. It offers enhanced operational range – up to 135Hz, a shaftthrough structure and support at both ends of the

New electric radiators…from Stelrad

Stelrad has announced the arrival of a new range of electric radiators and towel rails to complement the already huge range of traditional radiator products available.

Stelrad is the number one brand within central heating radiators and is now setting its sights on the electric market with a highly competitive range of both steel and aluminium electric radiators. The new Electric Series range will be available through merchants from September 2023.

The range will include a dozen or so different models with a number of sizes of each model available, with standard radiators for any room along with a selection of towel rails specifically targeted at bathrooms and en-suites.

The selection includes radiators that are dry, dry stone and fluid filled offering a full choice of options within the technology. As you would expect, the new range offers a variety of energy saving and comfort enhancing features with fitted and Wi-Fi enabled controls. Some of the new radiators will be ‘three in one’ options, featuring a fan heater at the base of the radiator and manual controls that allow you to use the towel rail and the fan heater individually or together if you wish. Colours will be white for all radiators with the option of anthracite grey and chrome for some of the models.

One of the new towel rails, destined to be particularly popular and gaining warm response from the KBB fraternity is the Agata E-Flow - a straight, flat tube towel rail design, featuring five banks of three tubes with spaces between each bank, available in three sizes in both White and anthracite. It combines modern design

shaft which ensures higher durability and offers bottom compression and simple structure that offers lower noise and vibration, less weight and superior reliability.

Within the outdoor unit the new version of the LG Monobloc offers a new compressor noise shield, a new Black Fin coated heat exchanger, a new water flow sensor and a new water pressure sensor. There is an option to include a 3kW or 6kW electric back up heater.

“Installers and specifiers will love the new Monobloc ‘S’ – the all-in-one concept and reduced weight of the unit makes for easier and quicker installations.”

The unit comes with a Seasonal Coefficient of Performance of up to 4.67 (Average climate/Low temperature application) and a A+++ rating. The COP rises to 4.9 (Outdoor air 7°C/Leaving water temperature 35°C) and can deliver leaving water temperature of 65°C if required.

For more information on the LG Therma V range, contact LG by emailing aircon.sales@lge.com or head for www.lg.com/uk/heating-awhp

“The radiators in the electric series are aesthetically appealing and provide attractive options for the décor in the home...”

with functional heating and energy saving features. The E-Flow towel rails in the range feature a fan heater at the base of the towel rail and include manual controls for individual use of the towel rail or the fan heater, or both together as a 3 in 1 unit.

The radiators in the electric series are aesthetically appealing and provide attractive options for the décor in the home and come with a five-year warranty on the heating parts and a two-year warranty on the electric components. Head for the Stelrad website at www.stelrad.com for further details.

n HEATING, VENTILATION, CONDENSATION & MOULD CONTROL 34 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Image © LG

Image © Stelrad

www.hamag.co.uk JUL/AUG 2023 35

Advice on heating savings for social housing providers - from ESi….

Question: With rising utility prices, energy efficiency is on everyone’s minds. How can the latest Smart Controls help deliver energy savings?

With many heating controls being controlled from apps on smart phones and tablets, the ability to control your heating at any time of day and from virtually anywhere means you can be in more control than when you are at home. Modern controls allow you to control several heating zones in the home and control these individually and more accurately so you can easily increase the temperature in the rooms you will use as you head home after work, for example. And you can monitor the temperature levels in different parts of the home, reducing temperatures in rooms that will not be used but leaving enough background heat to keep them comfortable.

With energy prices increasing its important to take a close look at every way in which energy can be saved and costs kept to a minimum and this is why ESi controls are OpenTherm compatible. The way OpenTherm works allows far smoother transition of heating control, which reduces energy and saves money. Using OpenTherm will save between 10 and 15% on the gas bill. We will see increased awareness of OpenTherm controls in the next few months as people begin to realise the savings these controls offer when connected to a modern condensing gas boiler.

ESI CONTROLS: www.esicontrols.co.uk

Stelrad launches compact 900mm high radiators

As part of its programme of providing radiators to operate well with renewable heating systems – powered by air source and ground source heat pumps - Stelrad has announced that it will be launching a range of 900mm high radiators in a variety of widths in quarter 2 2023.

Head of Marketing Chris Harvey said: “There is a clear need for larger size radiators to cope with the lower circulating system temperatures generated by renewable heating systems and we are making sure our installer and specifier customers have access to the full range of options they will need in the months ahead.

“The transition from fossil fuelled, boiler driven systems to heat pump driven renewable systems is well underway and we’re making sure that installers and specifiers realise fully that radiators are ‘fit for the future’ and more than capable of providing the necessary heat around the home –radiators need to be sized properly as always to provide sufficient heating capacity and insulation needs to be evaluated to ensure its adequate to ensure the heat in the home does not escape to atmosphere.”

Head for www.stelrad.com for all the advice you need to decide on the right radiators for your installations and heating system designs.

STELRAD: www.stelrad.com

LG heat pumps - the solution for social housing

LG’s new Monobloc ‘S’ has been launched in the UK. As with the original Monobloc, this new model combines the indoor and outdoor features in one module. It’s also connected by only water piping, eliminating the need for refrigerant piping, making this heat pump an installer’s dream when it comes to ease of installation.

The original version was extremely quiet, but this new ‘S’ version is even quieter and up to 9kW units can be installed at the minimum of 4 metres away, and up to 16kW units - up to 5 metres away from neighbouring houses complying with international noise regulations. Installers will love the new Monobloc ‘S’ – the all-in-one concept and reduced weight of the unit makes for easier and quicker installations. The new version requires lower amounts of refrigerant compared to the existing model – 16.7% less in fact – reducing emissions and lessening its environmental impact still further. The new version features LG’s revolutionary R1 Compressor technology which offers advanced efficiency, reliability and operational range due in part to the enhanced tilting motion of the scroll. It offers enhanced operational range – up to 135Hz, a shaft-through structure and support at both ends of the shaft which ensures higher durability and offers bottom compression and simple structure that offers lower noise and vibration, less weight and superior reliability.

LG: partner.lge.com/uk | uk.aircon@lge.com

Altecnic launch CALEFFI XS® Magnetic Filter

Altecnic, the leading supplier of hydronic solutions and part of the Caleffi Group, have released a new under boiler magnetic filter, the CALEFFI XS®.

The CALEFFI XS® is a compact and versatile magnetic filter that is designed to protect heating and cooling systems from the harmful effects of impurities.

With a filtration system that uses a mesh filter, a neodymium magnet, and a collection chamber, the CALEFFI XS® helps to remove impurities from systems. The mesh filter captures large particles, such as dirt and sand, while the magnet attracts and traps metal particles. The collection chamber captures the heaviest particles, such as rust and scale. With the installer in mind, the CALEFFI XS® is easy to install and maintain. It can be installed underneath any type of boiler, and the transparent glass windows make it easy to see when the filter needs to be cleaned. The internal isolation valve also ensures that only water in the collection chamber is drained before cleaning the mesh, for quick and easy servicing.

Gary Perry, Managing Director at Altecnic, commented, “With homes being stretched for space, creating solutions that are compact whilst still being able to effectively protect the system is important. The CALEFFI XS® provides a compact, versatile, and easy to install and maintain solution for installers and homeowners. It is the perfect choice for keeping domestic systems running smoothly and efficiently.”

ALTECNIC: www.altecnic.co.uk/caleffi-xs

n HEATING, VENTILATION, CONDENSATION & MOULD CONTROL 36 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Image © ESi Image © Altecnic Image © LG Image © Stelrad

New programmable room thermostat launched by ESi

• RTP4 Touch offers ‘better’ response in company’s ‘Good, Better, Best’ line up

With a reputation for helping homeowners and tenants to control their heating costs as the cost of living continues to rise in the UK, ESi has responded to the current economic climate with the introduction of its latest quality heating control – the RTP4 Touch programmable room thermostat.

This latest introduction is capable of controlling heating and hot water systems via combi, system or heat only boilers. When installed with the ESi WIFI hub, homeowners and tenants heating and hot water can be controlled via Alexa or the ESi Centro App. Vitally, the load compensation functionality, available via OpenTherm technology, modulates the flow temperature dependant on the desired room temperature, saving up to 15% on gas usage – a benefit not to be overlooked in the current situation where energy prices have leapt to a huge new high in the UK.

And the new addition to the ESi range is an attractive addition as well. The 4 Touch has a large backlit LCD display and touch screen making it simple-to-use and programme.

The RTP4 Touch slots in neatly between ESi’s best selling RTP4RF units and its top of the range 6 Series WIFI programmable room thermostats, offering many of the benefits of both these ranges but providing additional benefits as well. It offers optimum start/stop and delayed start functions offering additional cost savings for users, 7 day, 5/2 day or 24 hour options to suit the homeowner or tenants lifestyles, automatic summer/winter change settings and has home, manual, away, sleep and holiday modes long with its popular landlord service interval reminder which makes it a perfect fit for social housing providers looking for a compliant heating control.

The new unit is battery controlled and comes with a low power indicator to show simply when the battery needs replacing. And the new control comes with a 3-year warranty to give owners complete peace of mind.

ESI CONTROLS: www.esicontrols.co.uk

Vent-Axia offers help with Building Regulation Compliance at InstallerSHOW

Vent-Axia, showcased its latest continuous ventilation solutions at this year’s InstallerSHOW at the NEC, Birmingham (27-29 June 2023). Located in the BEAMA1 Village, visitors to Vent-Axia’s stand were able to discover simple solutions designed to remove the risk to installers when retrofitting ventilation by ensuring compliance with the latest Part F (Means of Ventilation) of the Building Regulations. On show was a range of continuous ventilation.

A key addition to Part F for installers is a new sub section ‘Installing Energy Efficiency Measures’ in existing properties. Here it sets out that: “When carrying out energy efficiency measures to an existing dwelling, an assessment should determine what, if any, additional ventilation provision is needed, based on the estimated impact of the work.” In homes, this new positive move will help protect health and wellbeing and protect buildings from damp, condensation and mould caused by moisture being unable to escape. This means reconsidering the ventilation that is installed in social housing and moving from intermittent to continuous ventilation to ensure compliance.

For installers aiming to help landlords tackle condensation and mould and improve IAQ, Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon Revive, an intelligent filterless unitary fan, boasts powerful, quiet and efficient ventilation, and features an adjustable trickle speed. Alternatively, the intelligent Lo-Carbon Response 7 from Vent-Axia is a filterless unitary fan that features an ultra-low profile for discreet installation; increased airflow performance; a digital control menu; as well as a 7-year guarantee.

VENT-AXIA: www.vent-axia.com

LG success for new Therma V Monobloc ‘S’ heat pump

The announcement from the UK Government that it would provide a £5,000 grant from April 2022 to individuals choosing to install a heat pump over existing fossil fuel driven heating systems was the next crucial step towards major uptake of proven heat pump technology in preference to reliance on gas, oil and solid fuel options for domestic heating and hot water provision in the UK. The recent announcement that this level of support will be extended into 2028 will help even more people to switch from traditional boiler driven systems to renewable heating and hot water. The Future Homes Standard requires serious action and quickly if targets are to be met. Renewables and higher standards of building quality in, for example, recognition of better standards of insulation in homes are key to meeting the aims of the FHS. Heat pumps have a major part to play.

Hydronic components like the improved plate heat exchanger, the expansion tank, water pump, flow sensor, pressure sensor, air vent valve and safety valve are all built in - inside the outdoor unit – pre-installed and ready to run. And the R32 Monobloc ‘S’ provides excellent heating performance especially at low ambient temperatures whilst lowering its carbon emissions even more with the use of R32. This new unit sees built in water flow and pressure sensors to monitor the water circuit in real time, advanced water pump control, enhanced second circuit logic, energy monitoring of estimated power consumption via the remote controller, MODBUS connectivity without Gateway if required and advanced control for the domestic hot water recirculation pump.

LG: partner.lge.com/uk | uk.aircon@lge.com

n HEATING, VENTILATION, CONDENSATION & MOULD CONTROL 38 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Image © ESi

Image © LG Images © Vent-Axia

Off-site manufactured GRP components helping UK construction industry build better

The need for new homes continues to rise, with an average of 240,000 new houses being built each year. This increase has resulted in added pressure being placed on construction companies and their supply chains to keep up with demand.

One solution which is aiding the industry and enabling houses to be built more quickly is the off-site manufacture of prefabricated building component products. Chris Pearce, Sales Director at Stormking, a UK-based manufacturer of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) prefabricated products for the construction industry, explains how building off-site can benefit the new home construction supply chain and keep projects on track:

“GRP building products are helping to revolutionise the way new homes are built. These products range from door canopies and bay window roofs to dormers and chimney stacks, and are manufactured off-site before being delivered to, and installed, onsite. They can be ‘dry-fit’ into place, which requires no specialist knowledge, training, or tools.

“This ease of installation is saving construction companies both time and money – especially when compared to using traditional building materials and methods. However, this is just one of the advantages that is drawing the sector towards off-site manufactured products.

“Safety, choice and - in our case - UK-based manufacturing, are all additional benefits cited by construction companies when opting for off-site manufactured components.

“Firstly, safety. GRP products are substantially lighter than their conventional counterparts. This means they are easier to manoeuvre around site and at height, helping to reduce the potential for handling hazards. There is also no need for additional scaffolding or machinery, which again helps to mitigate any associated dangers.

“Secondly, choice. GRP component products can be produced in a wide variety of styles, colours, and sizes. This allows for more creativity with regards to design and enables specifiers to easily source products required for specific planning requirements. Overall, GRP off-site manufactured products offer greater scope in terms of look and feel than traditional tile or brick.

“Lastly, but definitely not least, is the ability to source these products from UK-based manufacturers. Here at Stormking we have over 500,000sq ft of manufacturing capacity spread over five sites in the Midlands. This, together with our 350 plus strong workforce and fleet of over twenty delivery vehicles, means we can support the industry nationwide, from the Isle of Wight to Northern Scotland. Being based in the UK is also helping us to reduce our carbon footprint.

“We understand that environmental credentials are now an important consideration for many companies when choosing a supplier. Here at Stormking, we believe that GRP products offer more environmental and sustainable benefits than traditional building materials. Transportation is reduced as components are delivered in one piece and from one supplier; less resources are required to install the products which reduces the need for more plant hire on site; and the products have a much longer lifespan than their traditional counterparts. In addition to this, and to further reduce our carbon footprint, we are working with fleet operators on testing electrical vehicles for our service teams.

“So, from cost efficiencies and safety to ease of installation and sustainable credentials, it is clear to see why the construction industry is choosing to use more GRP prefabricated products to keep projects moving. We believe this trend will continue to grow as more companies realise the many benefits off-site manufactured GRP products can offer.”

Further information about Stormking and its GRP product offering can be found at www.stormking.co.uk or by calling 01827 311 100.

Images © Stormking

Stormking GRP canopy SMARTstack colour spraying

n EXTERIOR

MMC &

40 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Stormking’s premises in the Midlands

BUILDING ENVELOPE,

OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION

Solar Roof System fitted to East Yorkshire coast new homes development

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm off the east coast of Yorkshire is not alone when producing clean energy. House Builder Ward Homes Yorkshire is installing a state-of-the-art solar roof system on their latest housing project in the seaside town of Hornsea.

The Folly is Ward Homes Yorkshire’s next development comprising of 60 new energy-efficient homes each benefiting from Crest Nelskamp Planum Concrete Roof Tiles and Integrated Solar System.

The solar panel roof tiles are both a roof covering and an electricity-generating solution and fit seamlessly to create a virtually invisible and attractive look to the finished roof.

In mid-June the roofing team completed the first roof finished in Onyx Black, Charles Ward Managing Director said: “I couldn’t be happier with the result, the roof tiles and solar panels look fantastic and are hardly noticeable from the roadside, I’m looking forward to seeing the next plot which features the Cayenne Red tile next to the solar panels”.

The eco-friendly solar panels are engineered to fit quickly and easily with only 3 screws required and a simple tile clip that secures the panel to the roofing structure which prevents the modules from dislodging and becoming airborne during extreme weather conditions.

The modules interlock with the Planum roof tiles resulting in a sleek modern finish to the completed roof. Craig Young (pictured above) one of the roofing

team at Ward Homes Yorkshire said: “The solar panels are fantastic to work with and couldn’t be easier to fix, the panels are light and take no more time to fit, even connecting the MC4 plugs together is so simple” he also added “The cloaked verge tiles are also superbly made and look so much better than the plastic end caps that most developers use”.

The aesthetic energy system is an exciting new addition to Ward Homes Yorkshire’s future in building sustainable homes and the Crest team are committed to supporting them in this exciting new project. www.crest-bst.co.uk

www.hamag.co.uk JUL/AUG 2023 41

n All in one continuous integration of solar energy and roof tiles will be installed on the 60 new homes. Image © Crest n Quick and simple installation of the Solar Panels and “Plugin” easy-to-fix MC4 connections. Image © Crest

Solar PV: Sustainable solutions

With the transitional period for the Part L Building Regulations now over, the pressure is on for local authorities to adopt more sustainable solutions that not only support reductions in emissions but also include safety-first protection measures for their tenants. Here, Stuart Nicholson, roof system director at Marley discusses some of the key considerations.

On 15 June 2023, the transitional period for compliance with the uplifted Part L Building Regulations came to an end, signalling a key milestone in the steps to achieving net zero by 2050. These regulations put in place set a standard for those responsible for specifying and constructing new homes, including the local authority sector, ensuring all new homes are designed and constructed to produce 31% lower carbon emissions.

We are now advancing towards the introduction of the Future Homes Standard in 2025. At that point, all newly constructed homes need to be specified as highly energy efficient, use renewable technology solutions and be zero carbon ready.

Ensuring the nation’s housing stock, including local authority properties, is measurably more energy efficient is a vital element of the national net zero strategy; one that puts the adoption of sustainable building and roofing solutions under the spotlight.

“Aside from its cleaner and sustainable energy generating capabilities, solar can also make a positive contribution to easing household energy costs, an aspect that tenants will readily welcome as energy prices remain high.”

To support this, SolarTile® now also offers the assurance of enhanced safety protection with the recently launched solar connector enclosure, ArcBox offers peace of mind following solar panel installation and comes as part of a holistic and proven renewable system solution available from Marley.

While the risk of electrical fire caused by solar PV on the roof is extremely low, safety remains a primary concern for those charged with a duty of care for tenants. As such, ArcBox has been innovatively designed to further enhance safety standards across all types of solar connections.

Independently verified by the KIWA fire test laboratory and Loughborough University, ArcBox forms part of Marley’s comprehensive full roof system, underpinned by a 15-year guarantee.

n The solar solution

For new build properties, improvements in energy efficiency (and lower carbon emissions) set out in Part L simply can’t be delivered by enhancing the building fabric on its own.

As a result, and to meet Part L, we are seeing an increase of solar PV on the roofscape, together with a highly efficient boiler, as the easiest and most costeffective way to meet the new carbon reduction targets.

Solar PV technology is a tried and tested solution, which is readily available and has become much more affordable as its popularity soars. Aside from its cleaner and sustainable energy generating capabilities, solar can also make a positive contribution to easing household energy costs, an aspect that tenants will readily welcome as energy prices remain high.

n Ensure total safety with ArcBox

As the provider of a market-leading integrated solar panel roof offeringSolarTile® - that is gaining traction with local authority new builds across the UK, Marley is also working to ensure that any potential concerns about safety and long-lasting protection for homes and tenants are alleviated.

As traction towards net zero continues to gather pace, renewable technologies, such as solar PV are here to stay. They will be a critical part in how the construction industry undertakes the transformation of homes into more sustainable and energy efficient places in which tenants live and connect.

Part L and the forthcoming Future Homes Standard are regulatory milestones for local authorities looking to create the type of energy efficient and comfortable homes needed for their tenants.

By selecting a best in class fully integrated roofing system from a single source; one that includes a high performing solar PV solution and safety-driven ancillary components such as ArcBox, local authorities can confidently proceed with their sustainability agendas. Doing so will mean they can generate tenant outcomes that deliver cleaner energy, address energy cost concerns, help tackle the climate emergency and deliver enhanced safety for homes and households.

For more information on Marley’s SolarTile® and ArcBox solutions, please visit: www.marley.co.uk/solar

Images © Marley

n EXTERIOR BUILDING ENVELOPE, MMC & OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION 42 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Reclad project utilises stone wool insulation for more efficient façade

Façade systems, and especially the cladding of high-rise buildings, have been, and continue to be, the topic of increased discussion and scrutiny in the construction industry and beyond. Due to recent changes in building regulations, the main driver for recladding projects has been the improvement of fire performance, although new, modern cladding can also improve other aspects of the environment for the users of the building like the thermal and acoustic performance with the added benefit of an updated, aesthetically pleasing design.

Bringing these principles to life, the Streamlight Tower is a 24-storey high-rise building comprising 90 flats in the Poplar region of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Swan Housing appointed Higgins Partnerships to undertake reclad works to bring the building in line with modern building regulations.

To accommodate the existing balustrading and ground floor blockwork, it was important that the new cladding did not increase the thickness of the external walls. At the same time, regulations state that the U-value of the building had to be maintained or improved.

The flats remained occupied during the refurbishment and Higgins had to ensure that the residents were comfortable in their homes while the work was in progress. “The whole project took 89 weeks,” said Paul Gately, Project Manager at Higgins Partnerships. “We had to remove and replace balcony soffits, porcelain cladding panels and Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) banding. We also replaced combustible PIR insulation, sheathing board and EDPM rubber membrane.”

“ROCKWOOL Steel Frame Slab has been developed with non-directional stone wool fibres, meaning it absorbs noise and keeps its shape over time...ROCKWOOL was the right choice for this project, because we needed a high-performing product that would not need to be replaced a few years down the line...”

For the external cladding, RainScreen Duo Slab®, non-combustible ventilated cladding insulation from ROCKWOOL was specified. Incorporating Dual Density technology, the outer surface of each slab features a distinctly higher density than the underside. Once installed, the higher density outer surface works in combination with a factory-applied water repelling agent to give improved resistance to rain ingress during construction.

Façade Engineers, Fassaden + Architektur + Technik specified ROCKWOOL© Steel Frame Slab - non-combustible stone wool insulation. After removal of the sheathing board, the existing Steel Framing System (SFS) was filled with Steel Frame Slab. This helped to ensure the building maintained its existing U-values whilst preventing the external wall thickness from increasing. Being manufactured from stone wool makes Steel Frame Slab an effective thermal insulator, maintaining comfortable indoor environments by protecting against fluctuations in outdoor temperatures in both summer and winter. ROCKWOOL Steel Frame Slab has been developed with non-directional stone wool fibres, meaning it absorbs noise and keeps its shape over time. The dimensional stability supports performance for the lifetime of a building by preventing sagging or slumping within the frame.

“ROCKWOOL was the right choice for this project, because we needed a highperforming product that would not need to be replaced a few years down the line,” commented Sean Matthews, Managing Director of MK Facades, the specialist façade installer, who managed the complete design, supply and installation package for the Streamlight Tower, the company’s largest project to date.

“Overall, we installed 20,000 sqm of ROCKWOOL insulation and throughout the project, we were fully supported by the ROCKWOOL technical team,” continued Sean. “ROCKWOOL prepared the full thermal calculations for the whole façade system. They provided detailed test data for every ROCKWOOL product that helped to ensure we met all regulatory requirements. MK Facades now only uses ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation for our projects.”

The Streamlight Tower has a new, highly engineered weather resistant façade that regulates the internal temperature throughout the year. Residents can be assured that the non-combustible stone wool insulation helps keep the building safe and is compliant with the latest building regulations.

The UK’s recladding programme is complex and enormous in scale, however as this project shows, when properties are updated with materials that deliver on improved fire performance, as well as thermal and acoustic benefits, there is an opportunity to not only enhance the safety of buildings but elevate additional factors including comfort too.

For more information, visit rockwool.link/ha-recladguide

n EXTERIOR BUILDING ENVELOPE, MMC & OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION 44 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Images © Higgins Partnership

Thermistud™️ - a closed panel timber frame solution for Future Homes

Meeting the upcoming Future Homes Standard will likely require affordable housing providers and housebuilders to find new ways of constructing high-performing, thermally efficient homes. Coupled with the need for cost-control, speed of construction and repeatability of design, the off-site manufacture of components is also gaining momentum.

Tom Cox, Technical and Development Director at Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions discusses the company’s new closed panel timber solution, Thermistud™️ and how the business has combined the benefits of off-site construction with a tested structural system to offer a scalable solution for building sustainable and energy-efficient homes.

n A solution to exceed expectations

Thermistud is a wall panel system, which benefits from the consistency and quality associated with off-site manufacturing. The panelised system enables a Thermistud based design to be tailored to each project’s unique requirements and combined with other components to deliver projects at speed on-site with a high premanufactured value (PMV).

Designed to enable customers to achieve a better thermal performance than required for the current building regulations, Thermistud was built through the combination of established technologies. The use of an engineered timber stud reduces thermal bridging within the panel and is combined with a mineral wool core to form a closed panel solution that achieves a U-value as low as 0.13 W/m2k without additional insulation being fitted on site. With the inclusion of membranes, service zones and externally fitted battens, the system can help to speed up onsite build time and, when combined with suitable flooring and roofing solutions, delivers a highperforming fabric.

Thermistud wall panels can be used with lightweight modern cladding solutions, or with traditional brick facades, dependent on the project’s need. When combined with lightweight cladding solutions, the

wall thicknesses needed to achieve low U-values can often fit within a standard masonry wall width, meaning that enhanced thermal performance can be added within existing building layouts without changes to project layout or planning requirements.

The result is a solution with a performance point that can exceed the expected wall requirements likely to be needed by the Future Home Standard, without the need for additional site-installed insulation.

However, the wall panel is only part of the solution needed for whole-house performance. Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions’ product offer also includes structural roof and floor solutions and is supported by a design service that can help with the creation of a building that meets the whole life needs of its users. Thermistud is part of a wider range of MMC solutions offered by the group, that enables us to support specific customer or project needs.

By supplying whole-house fabric solutions with complementary service offers, rather than individual components, we can be confident of performance and quality.

Together, we can work with design teams to understand how solutions such as Thermistud work to meet and exceed a client’s design brief. Understanding how our systems work at a total fabric level and the complex relationship with other key areas of design such and heating and hot

water provisions will enable clients to deliver high performing, sustainable and comfortable homes.

n Thermistud in practice

Thermistud has already been delivered as part of the eHome2 concept home, a collaborative partnership between Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland and Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions, Barratt Developments, and the University of Salford.

Built at the university’s globally unique £16m Energy House 2.0 facility, the project aims to accelerate progress towards low carbon and net zero housing with a programme of rigorous whole-building testing.

eHome2 is monitoring the thermal performance, energy efficiency, running costs and residential comfort of the concept home as well as its ability to cope with extreme temperatures and climatic conditions.

A flexible off-site system, Thermistud is designed to meet the needs of affordable housing providers. If you’re looking for a thermally efficient wall system for your next development, get in touch with the Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions team today.

www.saint-gobain.co.uk/Thermistud

n EXTERIOR BUILDING ENVELOPE, MMC & OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION 46 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions Thermistud with a Weber brick slip Image © Saint-Gobain The eHome2 concept home. Images © Saint-Gobain

Sustainable Shower Specification: How everyone can play their part

With residents becoming increasingly concerned about the efficiency of their homes – both from a sustainability and financial perspective – it is integral that the whole supply chain plays its part to drive informed choices that reduce energy and water usage. Dan Lintell, Sustainability Manager at Triton Showers, discusses how manufacturers, installers, and social housing providers can work together to move towards a collective sustainability goal.

Efficiency is no doubt becoming more of a priority for end-users, with awareness of the ongoing climate crisis and rising household bills playing a key part in this shift. In the context of social housing, last year’s Sector Risk Profile1 highlighted numerous challenges posed by inflation. These issues centre around financial pressures such as rising cost of debt, a proposed rent cap, and a weak housing market. Simultaneously, tenants face their own difficulties, with some households being forced to default on rent and/or go without necessities such as food, gas and electricity.

With these challenges front of mind, the conversation comes back to how properties can be more efficient. As many look to adopt greener practices, it’s important that the supply chain has a cohesive approach. It can help to consider the process of development through to installation of an efficient product like the passing of a baton.

n The Manufacturer

Responsible for conception and delivery of a product, manufacturers use research and development to bring sustainable innovations to market. Triton has a product development team with this specific focus, having culminated a diverse range of sustainable and efficient electric showers to suit every customer, budget and specification.

After all, heating water via electricity has long been the most efficient method for pleasurable bathing and Triton’s electric showers continue to be repairable rather than disposable, reducing landfill. While aiming to be the most sustainable shower brand in the UK, Triton is also educating its customers on how they can use water and energy more efficiently by sharing insights and research with its network of customers.

The Specifier

As the decision makers on product selection, specifiers should lead with a focus on efficient design. Opting for solutions that have been developed with this in mind is key. According to Triton’s recent research, showering with an electric unit could save households up to 76% in terms of energy consumption and more than 40 litres of water per shower. This has potential to cost up to a third less to run each year and reduce carbon footprint by up to 70% when compared to a mixer option.

Supply chain alignment is another key consideration – here, specifiers should opt for suppliers with green credentials. Triton is taking responsibility for its carbon emissions by investing in climate projects to fully compensate for emissions generated during the manufacturing process. Triton’s latest innovation, the ENVi®, has been verified and accredited by ClimatePartner, an independent partner who has helped Triton to identify projects which reduce or remove carbon emissions and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to improve lives.

n KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, INTERIORS & INCLUSIVE DESIGN 48 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

“...heating water via electricity has long been the most efficient method for pleasurable bathing and Triton’s electric showers continue to be repairable rather than disposable, reducing landfill.”

“...showering with an electric unit could save households up to 76% in terms of energy consumption and more than 40 litres of water per shower.”

n The Installer

When potentially faced with hundreds, if not thousands, of homes to look after, efficiency in terms of installation rollout is an equally important consideration. This is particularly pertinent given that any difficulties in this process could lead to higher project costs, delays in residents moving in, and ultimately, downtime. Therefore, opting for systems that are designed with ease of installation in mind is essential. It’s also valuable to consider ongoing service, maintenance support and aftercare when choosing a supplier. Doing so allows housing providers to remain well-equipped in the event that something should go wrong.

As trusted experts, it’s important that installers are in-the-know about the latest efficient products, including upskilling – where required – so that they can install suitable innovations. Often being a touchpoint with end-users, they are also in a unique position to provide advice on how to use products to achieve the optimum benefits. Further added value comes in terms of ensuring waste materials from product replacement are returned to a supplier rather than throwing away.

Having awareness of the bigger picture and supply chain responsibilities is integral. Manufacturers, specifiers and installers working with the same common aim will in turn help to empower endusers to change their behaviour to become more sustainable.

For more about Triton’s latest range of electric showers, visit: www.tritonshowers.co.uk/showers-taps/ electric-showers

1 www.gov.uk/government/publications/ sector-risk-profile-2022

Unveiled at the InstallerSHOW in Birmingham from 27-29 June 2023, Triton Showers has announced the launch of its new electric shower solution.

The ENVi® marks a significant milestone for the leading shower brand. Not only does it highlight Triton’s continued leadership in sustainability and energy-efficient electric showering, but it is also a first-to-market concept. ENVi® is the first electric shower to balance personalised profiles, settings to encourage behaviour change by reducing water and energy usage, and an installation solution that creates the most minimal electric shower design.

Set apart from other models on the market, Triton’s ENVi® boasts unique design features to offer installation flexibility. The new product hosts a control panel which enables users to remotely adjust water temperature, set a timer, and easily monitor water and energy usage. The control panel, which is available in three versatile finishes – black, copper and silver effect – accommodates up to six user profiles and features an eco-mode, making it simple for users to reduce water and energy usage by showering for a minute less. It also offers thermostatic functionality for superior temperature stability.

“Our latest offering is an industry first and showcases our commitment to become the most sustainable shower brand in the UK –taking us one step closer to our target of net zero by 2035.”

The electric shower unit, Tri-Hub, can be located up to 3m away from the control panel – making it suitable for installation in a surrounding loft space or an airing cupboard, depending on homeowner preference and household layout. This creates a sleek and minimalist finish within the showering space.

Triton also hopes to encourage user behaviour by promoting efficiency, as David Tutton, managing director at Triton Showers, explains, “Electric showers have long been an energy-efficient choice for homeowners, drawing on cold water mains to heat water on demand, and we’re proud to now add the innovative new ENVi® to our diverse range.

“At Triton we believe Every Drop Makes a Difference. The unique ENVi® has been created with this philosophy in mind and features full-colour digital control that provides water, energy and cost feedback on individual shower use. Our latest offering is an industry first and showcases our commitment to become the most sustainable shower brand in the UK – taking us one step closer to our target of net zero by 2035. The innovative shower leads the way in the future of efficient, more sustainable solutions in the bathroom to save water, energy, and money, while providing a stylish showering experience.”

Triton is also taking responsibility for their carbon emissions, and is Triton’s first ClimatePartner certified product. Triton has calculated the carbon-footprint of the full lifecycle of the ENVI® shower and is investing in climate projects to fully compensate for these emissions. The work has been verified and accredited by ClimatePartner, an independent partner who has helped Triton to identify projects which reduce or remove carbon emissions and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to improve lives.

Triton Showers continues to lead the industry in eco-friendly shower solutions, empowering customers to make a positive impact on the environment without compromising on quality or style.

To learn more about Triton’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and explore the ENVi® product range, visit www.tritonshowers.co.uk/envi. For more about Triton’s sustainability commitment, please visit www.tritonshowers.co.uk/sustainability

www.hamag.co.uk JUL/AUG 2023 49

Triton introduces the next generation of personalised electric showering with ENVi®

Flexible inclusive showering for any need

When it comes to inclusive bathrooms, functionality, is the main driver of product choice. Here, Stuart Reynolds, UK Marketing & Product Management Director at AKW, a leading provider of inclusive solutions, discusses why demand for flexible showering solutions continues to grow and the options that are available.

Demand for inclusive bathrooms on the rise

According to latest data from the Office of National Statistics, in the year ending June 2021, 24.9% of disabled people aged 16 to 64 years rented social housing compared with only 7.9% of non-disabled people1. Not surprisingly therefore, demand for inclusive bathrooms is on the rise in housing association properties. Social landlords can meet this need cost-effectively by switching out baths for levelaccess showering.

A wet room or a shower tray?

Following OT assessment, it should become clear if a shower tray or wet room former is better suited to meet the person’s needs. Here is a quick overview of the benefits of each:

• When it comes to installation times and costs, shower trays are more cost-effective to install than level-access wet rooms.

• AKW’s Mullen and Swift shower tray ranges are options which can be fully recessed in timber floors to offer a level-access shower tray solution.

• Wet room formers might be more suitable for those looking to future-proof the adaptation for changing user needs over time.

• Wet room formers can withstand the combined weight of users, wheelchairs and/or carers and also promote greater accessibility.

• Wet room formers can be fitted into unusually sized/shaped spaces or can be trimmed to work around soil pipe boxing etc.

achieved by contractors compared to one wet room in any given week. This enables housing associations to reduce any accessible bathroom installation backlogs that might have built up in the past.

Wheelchair users

For those users requiring wheelchair access, there are a range of wet room formers and shower trays to suit:

• AKW Tuff Form® and Tuff Form8® wet room formers – have been designed as the easiest way to install a wet room and has a weight limit of 60 stone (381 kg).

A need for speed?

A traditional wet room solution can take between 5 to 7 days to install, however thanks to the introduction of the AKW Onyx Care Pod, it is possible to install this stylish, yet highly functional standalone cubicle in a much shorter timeframe. In fact, removal of the existing bathroom and installation of the Pod takes two to three days – reducing the time taken to complete an adaptation by up to 60%. This not only makes the install a lot faster but reduces inconvenience for tenants and meets their needs much more quickly. Also, two installations can be

• The ShowerDec® wet floor former – this offers exceptional strength for wet room shower areas up to 100 stone (635 kg). No additional supports are required around the waste area, enabling quick and easy installation.

• The Swift shower tray – for corner entry showering, this level-access shower tray has a weight bearing limit of 42 stone (270 kg).

• The Eagle TWO shower tray – this is a bath replacement shower tray that can be cut to length and has a weight bearing limit of 42 stone (270 kg).

Aesthetic appeal

More and more housing associations are looking for future proof bathrooms that can be adapted to suit user’s needs as they change over time. Glass shower screens and chrome fittings are now enabling level access showering spaces to be transformed from functional to aesthetically appealing. AKW’s Onyx range of grab rails, screens, bathroom accessories, shower seats and trays products – available in white, chrome and black - have been designed to deliver just the right balance between functionality and style.

It is possible to accommodate disabled tenant needs, whilst ensuring future flexibility of the inclusive bathroom. To find out more about this, why not contact AKW’s team of experts, or for more information on flexible showering to suit any tenant need, visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk

For more information contact AKW on 01905 823298, Email: sales@akw-ltd.co.uk or visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk

Images © AKW

1https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/disability/articles/outcomesfordisabledpeopleintheuk/2021

n KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, INTERIORS & INCLUSIVE DESIGN 50 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

“It is possible to accommodate disabled tenant needs, whilst ensuring future flexibility of the inclusive bathroom.”

The AKW Onyx Care Pod for quick and easy installation

Tested & Approved: Reformulated Dulux Trade Diamond Matt extending lifecycles and improving sustainability

Dulux Trade Diamond Matt has been reformulated in line with customer feedback to deliver durability and improved sustainability credentials, helping the industry move towards a more sustainable future. Available from June, architects and specifiers can be confident that Dulux Trade Diamond Matt meets key industry standards and will provide their clients with quality results for years to come.

n The finish

Designed for high traffic areas, the new formula will help extend maintenance cycles further with walls that stay looking newer and cleaner for longer. Dulux Trade Diamond Matt delivers ultimate durability and is compliant with BS EN ISO 11998 Class 1 and BS 7719 Class C and can withstand 10,000 scrubs (the equivalent of five hours non-stop scrubbing). Dulux Trade Diamond Matt can therefore be repeatedly cleaned and scrubbed, ensuring that unwanted stains can be easily removed without damaging the paint film on the wall – making the professional finish last even longer.

Dulux Trade Diamond Matt also delivers great opacity and is now available in 150 additional extra deep colours, providing reassurance that it can achieve strong aesthetics that will last the test of time.

n Sustainability

In a recent survey, 71% of professional decorators said their clients now regularly request sustainable paint options1. Dulux Trade Diamond Matt is 99.9% VOC (volatile organic compound) free*, so it has lower impact on indoor air quality and the overall

carbon footprint of a project when compared with the previous formulation.

Innovative binder technology ensures that the water-based paint delivers quick drying times, helping professionals work quickly and efficiently. It forms a film even at very low temperatures and in conjunction with the low VOC content, it means that redecoration work can be

completed quickly, minimising disruption to the customer.

For added reassurance that it delivers sustainability benefits, Dulux Trade Diamond Matt is also compliant with green building accreditations BREEAM**, LEED*** and WELL.

n ‘Tested & Approved by Professional Decorators’

To demonstrate its commitment to delivering the best quality paints, Dulux Trade is introducing a seal of approval to showcase the rigorous testing that takes place to ensure that its products deliver every time (find out more about the process at www.duluxtrade.co.uk/testedandapproved). The ‘Tested and Approved by Professional Decorators’ process begins with laboratory testing under controlled conditions. Dulux Trade then asks professional decorators to review the product in three stages:

1. Assessments by a member of the internal Dulux panel of professional decorators –which is a blind test

2. Assessments by a panel of external professional decorators – which is also a blind test

3. Field trials that put the product to the test under external conditions

For more information on Dulux Trade Diamond Matt, see here: www.duluxtrade.co.uk/diamondmatt

* Based on in-can VOC content, measured in accordance with ISO 11890-2:2013

** Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology *** Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

1Attest survey: To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements ‘My clients request sustainable paint options?’ (n=150)

Beauflor builds at Housing 2023

Beauflor® attended Europe’s largest housing festival to show its sheet vinyl flooring that meets the quality and affordability challenges of the sector.

Beauflor used June’s Housing 2023 show in Manchester to demonstrate the suitability of its floors for social and affordable homes. Beauflor sheet vinyl floors offer benefits for housebuilders, developers, local authorities and housing associations. Meeting the quality and affordability challenges of the sector, while providing tenants with a floor that’s homely, comfortable and easy to look after; providers can ensure a floor that’s not just lasting but one that also helps to create a good quality home for tenants.

Cost-effective and fast to install thanks to a sheet format, Beauflor sheet vinyl provides a surface that’s not only durable, but also simple to maintain and which stays looking good throughout use. Beauflor ranges are also the only sheet vinyl floors available for social housing five-metre wide. Free from seams after installation in all but the largest of public areas, the seamless finish provides a 100% water-resistant and a more authentic natural look. Ranges such as Blacktex, Quintex, Smartex and Xtreme provide a surface that’s not only durable, but also simple to maintain and which stays looking good throughout use. Combined with natural wood and tile designs, as well as popular modern looks like concrete and terrazzo, the result is an attractive floor that tenants find easy to live.

BEAUFLOR: www.beauflor.com

n KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, INTERIORS & INCLUSIVE DESIGN 52 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Doorstep trends

DoorCo is the brand behind 10’s of 1000’s of composite doors residing in social housing homes across the UK, delivered via a network of expert fabricators and installers. Collaboratively, we have been delivering on large partnering and framework agreements with many RSLs for over a decade. Our aim is to provide a robust supply chain of the best doors for residents in term of stability, security and aesthetics. As we press forward into the second half of the year, we’re presented with the perfect time to take stock of what has been trending throughout 2023 so far and use this knowledge to help us predict what is going to be big for the remainder of the year.

n Style

When it comes to door styles, we’re seeing two key trends remain consistent throughout our factory.

With panelled doors such as the Carnoustie and Lytham remaining best-sellers with Farmhouse styles such as the Sunningdale and Belfry also sitting at the top of the charts, we can see that traditional designs continue to be popular choices in the market. These country-style classics have a timeless look that suits much of the UK’s housing stock.

n Colour

Colour is more than just a trend. It’s central to the composite door difference and an area that keeps on evolving, influenced by many factors. Some colour influences are temporary while others appear to last a lifetime. As an innovative composite door supplier, its essential to us that our PAiNT range has something to suit these shifting tastes. This includes the largest

range of standard colours, which is favoured as the most cost effective and fastest option for the housing sector.

With around 34% of all our manufactured doors so far this year being a shade of grey of some type, it’s clear to see the love of grey exteriors is beyond being just a trend. Dark greys, such as Anthracite – a standard shade - continue to be a favourite but lighter shades of grey like Agate, and more neutral tones like Sandstone, are becoming increasingly popular.

n Glass

As door styles such as Carnoustie, Lytham and Belfry top the style charts, it’s clear to see that GLAZiNG continues to be an integral part of the overall design and will remain a popular addition to composite doors for the foreseeable. Although best-selling glass styles remain simple for the most part, we do see some bolder choices sneak through the top of the rankings.

Louisiana, a stunning combination of bevelled and textured glass is our 4th most popular design for 2023 so far, closely followed by other decorative styles including Trio Diamonds and Graphite.

Decorative choices in our GLAZiNG product range have extended the possibilities available to the end customer wishing to add an element of design to their home.

The growing pressure on landlords to deliver better performing and more attractive homes means the design and colour schemes of entrance doors are

diversifying and composite doors are leading the way in establishing the differentiation that the market desires. Efficient and secure, the composite door also requires minimal maintenance and offers cost effective alternatives for improving the kerb appeal of housing stock. DoorCo and our network of specialist door fabricators and installers understands what it takes to deliver a reliable, secure and relevant supply chain to support the social housing sector in satisfying this change. Talk to your service provider about DoorCo products or get in touch with us directly to find out how our products can become part of your composite door specification.

For more information call: 01625 428955 or visit: www.door-co.com

“Decorative choices in our GLAZiNG product range have extended the possibilities available to the end customer wishing to add an element of design to their home.”

54 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk n DOORS, WINDOWS, ACCESS & SECURITY

Tighten up over sealing

ISO Chemie’s UK sales and operations manager Andy Swift, who has been speaking at a new Air-tightness in Construction CPD event,* explains why keeping a tight seal on things is so important.

As every housebuilder and developer in the UK knows, designing homes is as much about designing an efficient heating system as it is about anything else. In a country where heating bills constitute one of the largest outgoing expenses in the average home, it is paramount that new homes offer the conditions to maximise the comfort level achieved per pound. Indeed, comfort is king when it comes to housing.

This is why it can be so frustrating for new homeowners when, after having found what they thought was their perfect home, and laid down no inconsiderable sum of money, they find their home is perpetually cold, draughty and even potentially mouldy. Inevitably, more upset will come with the first utility bill.

It’s no secret that efficient heating is at the forefront of the agenda by now, with debates about the most ecologically friendly way of heating homes sitting side by side (not always comfortably) with the outrage against rising energy bills. There is one solution, at least, which has proven wildly effective, comparatively cheap to enact and satisfies those on all fronts, and that is to ensure that the houses being built lose as little of their precious heat as possible.

That is why ISO-Chemie, whose gap-sealing tapes and solutions provide effective resistance against heat loss, is doing its best to get the word out there by touring the country giving CPDs to architects and specifiers. The message is clear, not only are the right products needed for the job, but also the right installation. Hence the need to go beyond simple marketing and into the realm of education.

The initiative is intended to advance architectural knowledge and understanding of airtightness and related issues, enabling specifiers to improve the design and construction of buildings and boost their technical and product expertise. Unfortunately, thermal sealing around windows is not specified by law in the UK, unlike the rest of Europe, meaning that homeowners are at the mercy of specifiers and architects. How informed they are on the issue is a matter of great importance.

The statistics neatly illustrate that in most homes, those not built to Passivhaus standard, heat losses are overwhelmingly replaced by artificial heating rather than through solar energy or internal warmth. This means that reducing heat losses in the home is paramount in the battle to lower energy consumption.

One of the products profiled is an expanding foam tape called ISO-BLOCO ONE, which sits between the window or door frame and the wall structure. This one tape fulfils three applications – providing defence against driving rain from the outside, offering thermal and acoustic insulation and creating an air-tight seal internally.

Delivered onsite and contributing towards formal CPD training, the programme covers advice on effective window installation techniques, and how to identify and rectify air leakage. A large amount of heat is lost from a building through the gap between the windows and the surrounding wall, as thermal imagery clearly shows. This gap is necessary to allow for the natural expansion of the window frame throughout the year, what isn’t necessary, however, is the loss of heat.

n All on tape

Doors and windows account for almost a quarter (21%) of the total air loss of the average house, and adding the joints between walls, floors and ceilings brings the figure up to 50%. Many argue that airflow is desirable, however Marc points out that you could easily eliminate 50% of heat loss whilst still retaining some natural air flow.

A big advantage of the tape is in the application process. It is applied to the window before installation, meaning that windows can be easily installed from inside the building, avoiding the need to use time consuming and costly external access systems like scaffolding and ladders. What’s more, the expanding foam contours to any shape or material to form a seal, creating a neat joint between the door/window and the fabric of the building, keeping your homebuyers warm and happy.

56 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk n DOORS, WINDOWS, ACCESS & SECURITY

Images © ISO Chemie *Andy Swift gave his CPD presentation at the opening of a new branch in Brighton for ISO Chemie customer Passivlux. The company installs windows from Internorm, Velfac, Unilux and Solarlux across the South of England using ISO BLOCO and Hybratec multi-functional joint sealing tapes to protect windows from thermal loss. More at www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home

“...statistics neatly illustrate that in most homes, those not built to Passivhaus standard, heat losses are overwhelmingly replaced by artificial heating rather than through solar energy or internal warmth.”

ISO-BLOCO ONE Left: Installation of windows with gap-sealing tape

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Metal trickle vents: offer the premium vent choice

Metal trickle vents have become increasingly popular among house owners and tenants due to their unparalleled benefits compared to traditional plastic vents.

One of the key benefits of the Titon metal trickle vent range is their durability - they are much less prone to abuse or over-use. A high performance gasket combined with compression closing action improves sealing in adverse weather conditions and assists with acoustic properties. This ensures that air is flowing through the vent only when it is necessary, reducing draughts and energy loss, a feature especially important in colder climates where energy efficiency is a top priority.

Another advantage of Titon’s metal trickle vents is that they are designed to fit over the same slot detail (13mm or 16mm slot), making an upgrade a simple swap. This means that fabricators can easily upscale their current stock without any significant effort or investment.

Furthermore, the airflow/EA rating of the Titon metal vents matches that of the plastic ranges, which means that no additional vents are required over plastic options to comply with the Building Regulations Approved Document Part F or recent revisions to other ventilation regulations. This not only saves time and money for house builders and fabricators but also ensures that the ventilation provided remains efficient and compliant.

Overall, the benefits of metal trickle vents are clear. They offer a more durable and reliable solution for house builders and fabricators, with better weathering and acoustic properties, a positive closure, and a more straightforward installation process. As the demand for energy-efficient and sustainable homes continues to grow, it is likely that metal trickle vents will become an even more popular choice in the years to come.

“...the benefits of metal trickle vents are clear. They offer a more durable and reliable solution for house builders and fabricators...”

Titon’s metal ventilator range offers a wide choice of sizes and air flow, available in standard colours as well as additional colours on request. The range includes the SF Xtra, SF Xtra Sound Attenuator and Trimvent® SM.

For more information on Titon’s metal vent range, other trickle ventilators or ventilation solutions, please visit www.titon.com

Part F compliance made easy with Carl F Groupco

With the period for the transitional arrangement for Approved Document F in England ending on 15th June 2023, Carl F Groupco has ensured ongoing compliance is straightforward by stocking an extensive inventory of Part F compliant trickle vents.

John King, Sales Director of the leading independent hardware supplier, said: “From 15th June 2023 all windows have a mandatory requirement to meet the revised Document F of Building Regulations. The new Part F of Building Regulations requires additional ventilation to circulate air in living spaces. While this can be achieved in many ways, by far the most economical and practical solution is to use trickle vents. We see this very clearly reflected in our sales with a near 50% rise in sales of trickle vents year-on-year which is likely to increase further now the transition period has ended.”

Carl F Groupco stocks a comprehensive range of Part F compliant trickle vents from leading manufacturers, meaning fabricators have several options to choose from. The range includes the popular Glazpart Link Vent MK II providing ventilation to homes without the need to open a window. Also available is a range of trickle vents from RW Simon, Yale and Greenwood, including their acoustic variants as part of its range of quality window and door components. For next level sound and ventilation, the company also stocks the AEROPAC Sound Insulated Ventilator and the AEROVITAL Ventilator and Heat Recovery Unit from Siegenia, which both provide alternative methods to achieve Part F compliance across new build and refurbishment projects. Alongside the products, Carl F Groupco also offers support as required. John said: “As a responsible hardware distributor, we can help our customers with the advice and guidance they need with these regulations. It’s something we know fabricators and installers are finding valuable.”

Carl F Groupco has built its name on providing the products and high level of service its customers need. It offers an extensive range of premium quality window and door hardware components which are supported by an unwavering commitment to customer service that means it can be a value-added hardware partner. Its supportive approach to the changes to Building Regulations and stocking the largest selection of Part F compliant products is a perfect example of this ethos in action.

CARL F GROUPCO: www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

Rapierstar supports window manufacturers switching to new profile systems

Specialist window and door fastener supplier Rapierstar is supporting window manufacturers in the social housing market who are switching to new PVCu profile systems, either as a forced change or through choice.

Through its Recommended Fixings Manuals (RFMs), one-to-one consultations and testing at its state of the art technical centre, the company is helping the industry ensure fasteners used every day in window and door assembly are suitable for new systems being introduced. This is crucial to ensure the suite of window screws is optimised to deliver high quality finished products in a safe, efficient factory environment.

Andy Holland, Technical and Marketing Manager at Rapierstar says: “It is easy to think the same screws will work across different PVCu profile systems, but this is often not the case. Achieving high standards when manufacturing with a new profile may require different screws in certain areas of assembly.”

RAPIERSTAR: www.rapierstar.com

n DOORS, WINDOWS, ACCESS & SECURITY 58 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

www.hamag.co.uk JUL/AUG 2023 59

CorkSol is proven as leading Thin Internal Wall Insulation solution

New SprayCork reduces heat loss through walls by more than 30%

n The Problem

Armed with the latest U-value testing equipment, and excited by the improved thermal performance data shown by the next generation SprayCork material in the lab, Corksol set out to assess the product’s thermal insulation performance as a Thin Internal Wall Insulation in a real-life situation.

The background to the testing was the UK Government’s March 2021 report on Thin Internal Wall Insulation (TIWI), which highlighted the potentially very large nationwide benefits for both energy efficiency and fuel poverty from high performance TIWI systems. The chosen test property was an 1890’s solid walled Yorkshire stone detached cottage in Halifax.

The small gas boiler struggled to keep the property warm in winter and mould and damp was evident on the walls, primarily in the corners and around the reveals of the French doors and windows. Drilling into the walls confirmed that there was no existing insulation, just plasterboard dot and dab fixed direct to the 300mm thick stone. The large dabs holding the plasterboard in place were cold to the touch, and an infra red camera confirmed clearly that they were acting as a strong cold bridge.

The U-value test kit used, an ISO 98691:2014 approved Swiss system, requires three measurements - internal temperature, external temperature and heat flux - to be recorded every minute for at least 72 hours. The test requires internal and external temperatures to be significantly different, so carrying out the test in winter was ideal.

The wall was tested before application of SprayCork, and a U-value of 1.58W/m2K was obtained. This is a reasonably good performance for an uninsulated stone wall, but well within the expected range.

n The Solution

SprayCork was spray applied directly to the existing plasterboard, across the whole internal surface of the exterior walls and around the window reveals. Application was in two layers giving an overall depth of 5-6mm. After drying, the walls were skimmed with 2mm of standard gypsum plaster, all in the same day.

Immediately there were signs that there were significant improvements in thermal performance. IR images showed a visible reduction in the cold bridges which had been caused by the plaster dabs and around the internal corners. This was visual confirmation of SprayCork’s effectiveness at increasing the surface temperature of the treated walls and so controlling condensation and mould.

the wall. This is an incredible result for a product applied at only 6mm thick and is testament to the wonderful natural properties of cork, the world’s finest natural insulator. The additional improvements in condensation and mould control, along with creating a cosier feel for occupants, all driven by the increase in internal wall surface temperature, make for a compelling package of benefits.

The thin layer at which the product is applied makes it perfect for:

• Small rooms and tight spaces where thicker layers would cause unacceptable reduction in room size.

• Properties with historic internal architectural details, which should not be concealed behind thick layers of insulation for conservation reasons.

• Properties on a tight budget, who do not want the extra cost, time and hassle of repositioning services like electrical points, radiators etc.

The landlord had experienced problems with penetrating damp in the gable wall, so had repointed this wall externally a year previously. Knowing that this wall was now fully dry, it made for a great test wall. The IR camera was used to determine the exact mounting point for the test rig, avoiding the cold bridge dabs which might skew the test.

After application, the U-value testing kit was remounted in the same spot as for the first test, under the same conditions. Four days later, the test was complete to ISO9869 standard, and the resulting U-value had improved to 1.10W/m2K.

n The Outcome

By improving U-value from 1.58 to 1.10, SprayCork had caused a 30.4% reduction in heat loss through

The breathable, vapour-open nature of SprayCork makes it an ideal solution for traditional, solid walled properties whose walls were designed to breathe. SprayCork allows traditional buildings to continue operating as designed and making a significant impact on the UK’s journey towards Net Zero carbon by 2050.

n REFURBISHMENT & MAINTENANCE 60 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

www.corksoluk.com

1890’s stone cottage, Halifax Damp penetrating walls Application of SprayCork Thermal imaging of wall half applied with SprayCork Images

www.hamag.co.uk JUL/AUG 2023 61

Improving energy efficiency during roof renovation

Green building policy has changed rapidly in recent years, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to a more environmentally sustainable future. As well as tightening regulations to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, the Government has legally committed to the UK being a zero-carbon economy by 2050 – which, when you think about the vast measures that need to be undertaken, will come around quickly.

These major steps towards greater energy efficiency and zero carbon are driving the need for more thermally efficient products. Inadequate insulation will mean heat is lost through a building’s walls and roof, increasing energy usage and the burning of fossil fuels.

The thermal performance of roofing insulation is a vital consideration during refurbishment, so as to meet the highest of standards in today’s sustainability climate. Measuring thermal efficiency, installation considerations and what solutions are available to help maximise energy efficiency are all vital to know.

conducted by the insulation material. The lower the thermal conductivity, the better.

Thermal resistance must also be taken into consideration, which helps to establish how different thicknesses of insulation materials will perform in terms of heat transfer. In this instance, the higher the thermal resistance the better.

And U-values measure how much heat will be lost through the roof, from the warm inside to the cold outside of the building. The lower the U-value, the less heat is lost through the building, therefore the lower the U value the better the thermal performance. It is calculated before any construction work begins as part of the design process to ensure the correct insulation is specified.

The amount and type of insulation needed will depend on the building’s climate zone and the existing insulation levels. It is important to work with an experienced manufacturer, such as Soprema, to determine the appropriate solution for the building.

n Design Considerations

As part of the design process, contractors and specifiers are advised to consider other factors that could impact on the insulation’s long-term thermal performance and environmental credentials.

These include the ease of insulation installation, as solutions that are easily installed are likely to reduce the risk of error and the product not performing as expected.

n Thermal Efficiency

One of the most effective ways to improve energy efficiency during a roof renovation is to specify the correct insulation which should be based on thermal performance.

There are different values used to measure the performance of roofing insulation, which include thermal conductivity (the lambda (λ) value, or k value (W/mK)). These measure how much heat is

Dimensional stability is also a key factor, as some materials are more likely to shrink than others during their lifetime, so it is advisable to check this risk with the insulation manufacturer to avoid it having a negative impact on performance.

Embodied carbon relates to how much energy is used in manufacturing and transporting the material. Although this will not affect the thermal performance of a building, it is becoming an

increasingly important consideration in line with the focus on sustainability and achieving zero carbon in our sector.

n Product Selection

As an expert in manufacturing waterproofing, insulation and soundproofing solutions, Soprema has been making great strides in sustainability for some time.

When it comes to responsible sourcing, using products made from recycled materials is also important. Soprema’s XPS recyclable insulation, for example, is produced from recycled polystyrene with climate-friendly CO2 technology.

In addition, Soprema offers natural insulation materials – such as Pavatex – made from wood residues from sawmills, which reduces environmental impact and offers a more sustainable insulation alternative. We also collect unused or old bitumen roofing membranes to recycle into new roofing products and asphalt for the roads.

Manufacturers should be looking at the wider impact of their material on the health of other organisms, too, ensuring it does not contain hazardous chemicals such as heavy metals. Of course, this is not achievable with all construction products, but the range of waterproofing solutions provided by Soprema for flat roofing design, do comply.

n A Sustainable Outlook

Sustainability has been a hot topic for some time, but that doesn’t mean its importance is dwindling. With the target to achieve net zero in carbon emissions by 2050 outlined last year, partnering with an experienced and trusted manufacturer is one step that specifiers can take towards a sound and sustainable product selection, which will benefit the building landscape for many years to come. For more information about energy efficiency roofing solutions from Soprema, contact our technical experts –techsupport@soprema.co.uk.

www.soprema.co.uk

62 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk n REFURBISHMENT &

MAINTENANCE

Meeting the challenge of water scarcity

If our water usage patterns don’t change, the UK will have an ongoing water deficit of 4,000 Megalitres per day by 2050. Reductions in leakage and domestic consumption are the two primary strands of water conservation targeted by Defra and the water companies.

Some areas of England are already restricting future development unless ‘water neutrality’ can be demonstrated. This requires both existing and new properties to reduce per capita consumption (PCC) to the extent that overall water usage levels do not increase.

n Reduce leaks, design out joints on pipes and prepare for smarter meters

Recent research by Thames Water showed that 8% of households show continuous flow on a smart meter, indicating an undetected leak. This means that up to 25% of water supplied to domestic properties is wasted through leakage.

This leakage can be due to old and corroded lead supply pipes, but the majority of leaks originate from joints in the supply pipe. The House Building Federation (HBF) and Water UK have since 2014 issued best practice guidelines. Of the 5 principles, 4 relate to minimising use and leakage.

Portsmouth Water explained their philosophy, “Portsmouth Water’s policy of having a single joint free service pipe from mains connection right the way through to the wall mounted boundary box has certainly improved confidence around the longerterm quality of these new assets from a leakage perspective. This policy is also helpful in the context of reducing customer side leakage and emerging knowledge in this area is showing that this is a bigger challenge than our previous understanding indicated.”

“Keeping pipes on the surface reduces the risk of leaks developing and allows for easy repair and maintenance. It’s just a must better method of working.”

n Reduce usage, a fit and forget solution

‘Over supply’ of water, i.e. water flow rates that are higher than required to provide an adequate supply, results in waste of water. Running taps when brushing teeth, showering, or rinsing cups uses more water than necessary.

Approximately 40% of domestic water usage is from bathroom and kitchen taps and showers. ‘Eco’ or water saving shower heads are designed to restrict the water flow to a single outlet are highly effective but fittings these come at a price, especially larger properties with multiple bathrooms.

Surface mounted meter housings are a perfect solution for modern methods of construction. Meeting all the HBFs Best Practice Guidelines, the meter housing can be pre-installed along with all the internal plumbing systems, and then connected to the mains supply via and continuous, uninterrupted length of pipe.

An early adopter of the surface mounted meter housing is Portsmouth Water. Bob Taylor, CEO

Steve Leigh, Managing Director Groundbreaker, and developer of the wall mounted boundary box has over 40 years’ experience in the Water Industry. “We’ve been putting pipes in holes in the ground to protect them from frost for decades”, he explained. “Although it works, today’s new materials allow for a much better solution. Keeping pipes on the surface reduces the risk of leaks developing and allows for easy repair and maintenance. It’s just a must better method of working.”

Steve continued, “The advent of new smart metering options has also highlighted the problems of burying meters in a hole in the ground. Groundbreaker allows for a stronger communications signal strength relative to underground meter installation. Such systems have been proven to be able to be read from over 2 miles away from a single pick-up point and worldwide if linked to the internet.”

The alternative is whole site flow reduction. Fitting a device such as Groundbreaker’s NRv2 LoFlo®, at the meter regulates the level of flow entering customer premises – regardless of network pressure. As the flow of water into the premises is limited, then the amount used in ‘time controlled’ activities is also limited – but without providing a degradation of service. More importantly not requiring any intervention or behavioural change on the part of the customer, so leading to ‘natural’ reduction in consumption.

For further information on the full range of Groundbreaker products visit: www.groundbreaker.co.uk

64 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk n REFURBISHMENT & MAINTENANCE

Groundbreaker’s surface mounted meter housings Groundbreaker’s NRv2 LoFlo®

Groundbreaker allows for a stronger communications signal strength relative to underground meter installation.

Stonewater delivers energy efficient homes that can be constructed in just a day

A housing association’s use of modern methods of construction has allowed it to develop more than a dozen EPC ‘A’ rated homes in record time.

Stonewater has delivered innovative, energy-saving homes in the Cambridgeshire village of Witchford thanks to its partnership with organisations that share its sustainability goals.

The homes are precision engineered at WElink’s factory and delivered in sections, resulting in less waste, resource and people management, and a much quicker process, with the superstructure erected and weatherproof in as little as one day Each of the new properties benefits from many energy-saving features including solar panels, insulated wall panels and floor systems, energy-efficient roof design, double-glazed windows, mechanical ventilation, and smart controls.

The innovations reduce energy demand by up to 70% compared to traditional homes while also achieving an EPC “A” rating, which means lower bills for residents.

The modern methods of construction also means that external factors, such as bad weather, don’t cause as much delay, as the majority of the process is in a factory setting rather than outdoors.

The homes being developed include 14 two and three-bedroom properties for affordable rent and shared ownership.

Key contractors came together recently to witness some of the homes being delivered and installed.

Chris Montague, Stonewater’s Development Director (East & North), said: “It has been fantastic to see first-hand the delivery of some of our new affordable homes to site.

“Wherever possible we are using modern, sustainable methods of construction, and it was great to witness these energy-saving homes being put together in such an efficient way.

“The cost of energy has risen significantly recently, and these homes will not only provide residents with a well-insulated, warm, and low-maintenance home, but they will also give them more control over managing their energy costs, something that will make a huge difference to our customers.

“We have built up a strong working relationship with WElink throughout this innovative project and are looking forward to working closely with the team in the future.”

Adam Norton, UK Head of Land for WElink Homes, added: “This is one of our first housing developments in the UK and we are extremely proud of what we have created.

“Stonewater has been a hugely supportive stakeholder in this project, and we are delighted that its tenants will soon be enjoying the added benefits that come with living in a WElink home.”

Andy Mace, Director at Macegreen Consulting, said: “We are delighted to have been involved in this project with Stonewater which demonstrates the social housing provider’s commitment to delivering energy efficient high-quality homes featuring innovative delivery solutions.

“We work with Stonewater nationally and this development is yet another example of its desire to provide affordable homes in both rural and urban settings which offer a sense of community, not just a place to live.”

Stonewater’s affordable homes, set in this rural village boasting a shop, post office, two churches, village hall, recreation ground and primary school, will include parking and rear gardens.

n HA ARTICLE 66 JUL/AUG 2023 www.hamag.co.uk

Stonewater

Images ©

“...these homes will not only provide residents with a well-insulated, warm, and low-maintenance home, but they will also give them more control over managing their energy costs...”

Trusted Independent Property Health Advisors

v Training

• CPD accredited training

• Property MOT training

• Bespoke training of choice (typ. Admin staff, Structural, Surveying, Impact Assessments)

v Certifications

• Certify installations and resultant effectivity on structure performance and occupants

• Certify internal atmospheric containment levels pre, during and post improvements

v Decarbonisation

• Independent advisors for decarbonisation and Net Zero journeys

• Independent advise for structural insulation, ventilation and heating

v Consultancy

• Independent advise for reported structural issues / defects

• Strategic partnering for property management

• Independent support for trade networks

v Retrofits

• Independent advisors for retrofit process (PAS 2035)

• Assess retrofit installations and individual impacts on existing components

v Surveying

• Bespoke surveying to certify existing structural and atmospheric health

• Roof cause analysis with detailed independent reporting and recommendations

• Roof membrane surveying

• Leak detection analysis

• Structural air permeability testing

• Home buyers independent analysis

Fight disrepair and re-spend

Cornerstone Professional Services: 0344 846 0955 www.cornerstone-ltd.co.uk www.propertymot.uk As seen on TV Images © Cornerstone

Founders

of the Certifiable Property MOT® platform

Housing Association - July / August 2023

CONTENTS

Partnership renewed to build on over £250m housing success

Commercial heating: a path to decarbonise businesses and empower housing associations

n The importance of decarbonisation

n Raising awareness and engagement

n Beyond heating: comprehensive sustainability strategies

n In summary

Let’s talk hardship and dignity

n Instant access to emergency funding

n Let’s Talk Energy

n Taking care of the present, building for the future

Slam dunk for One Can

New video highlights Actis’ determination to lead the way in sustainability

Price reduction on Stelrad K3 radiators

Donaldson Timber Systems launches house range

Siderise - integrity in all they do

n Learning the lessons

n Raising the bar

n Siderise products

n Already Influencing the world

Aluminium Balcony Refurbishment Project at The Kingsbury Building: A Safe and Sleek Solution

Housing Solutions and Aico announce IoT trial partnership across 100 homes

Smoke control dampers: your Colt guide.

n How smoke dampers work

Titon extends popular Titon Firesafe® range

How Sava is supporting Cottsway Housing on reducing carbon emissions and energy costs for tenants

n How can Sava help your organisation?

Flow2One

Extra Boost

- for use with Air Source Heat Pumps

Clean air needs more than a day

George Clarke looks at the importance of good indoor air

n A real killer

n Illegal levels of NOX

Protecting lives at home

The way we heat our homes must change … now is the ideal time to embrace a low carbon future

n From a name you know and trust

n New regulations, a new way of heating

n The time is now

At Ideal Heating, that’s where Logic Air comes in.

30 years of Kaizen at Mitsubishi Electric’s Livingston anniversary

First choice heat pump solution for social housing

New electric radiators…from Stelrad

Advice on heating savings for social housing providers - from ESi….

Stelrad launches compact 900mm high radiators

LG heat pumps - the solution for social housing

Altecnic launch CALEFFI XS® Magnetic Filter

New programmable room thermostat launched by ESi

Vent-Axia offers help with Building Regulation Compliance at InstallerSHOW

LG success for new Therma V Monobloc ‘S’ heat pump

Off-site manufactured GRP components helping UK construction industry build better

Solar Roof System fitted to East Yorkshire coast new homes development

Solar PV: Sustainable solutions

n The solar solution

n Ensure total safety with ArcBox

Reclad project utilises stone wool insulation for more efficient façade

Thermistud™️ - a closed panel timber frame solution for Future Homes

n Thermistud in practice

Sustainable Shower Specification: How everyone can play their part

n The Manufacturer

The Specifier

n The Installer

Flexible inclusive showering for any need

A wet room or a shower tray?

Wheelchair users

A need for speed?

Aesthetic appeal

Tested & Approved: Reformulated Dulux Trade Diamond Matt extending lifecycles and improving sustainability

n Sustainability

n ‘Tested & Approved by Professional Decorators’

Beauflor builds at Housing 2023

Doorstep trends

n Glass

Tighten up over sealing

n All on tape

Metal trickle vents: offer the premium vent choice

Part F compliance made easy with Carl F Groupco

Rapierstar supports window manufacturers switching to new profile systems

CorkSol is proven as leading Thin Internal Wall Insulation solution